Metaphorical markers of pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, and pain interference in people with chronic pain

Metaphor to communicate chronic pain can reflect psychological appraisals of pain, and its impact, and may be beneficial in enhancing understanding of pain, its aetiology, and facilitating communication and shared decision-making. This cross-sectional study examined metaphor use and relationships with pain intensity, pain interference, mood, and pain catastrophizing. Seventy participants with chronic pain completed measures of depression, anxiety and stress, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. They provided descriptions of their pain through metaphor and a primary condition related to their pain. Pain catastrophizing significantly predicted frequency of metaphor use (R2 =.07, F(1, 62)= 4.55, p = .041). More frequent use of metaphor was correlated with pain catastrophizing (r = .29, p = .03), rumination (r = .26, p = .05), magnification (r = .28, p = .03), helplessness (r = .28, p = .04), depression (r = .30, p = .02), and pain interference (r = .30, p = .02). Metaphors relating pain to physical damage were significantly associated with anxiety (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.35, p = .02) and magnification (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05–1.57, p = .02). Metaphors referring to pain as caused by an external agent were significantly associated with depression (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01–1.23, p = .04) and pain duration (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00–1.11, p = .04). The findings indicate that there may be specific metaphorical markers of psychological and pain-related outcomes in the language used by people with chronic pain. Appreciation of metaphor may facilitate enhanced patient-provider communication and support for people with chronic pain. People with chronic pain can use metaphorical expressions to communicate their experiences. This study found that pain interference, depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing are reflected in metaphor use by people with chronic pain. In particular, pain catastrophizing was significantly predictive of more frequent metaphor use, demonstrating the reflection of pain catastrophizing in language. •People with chronic pain can use metaphorical expressions to communicate their experiences.•This is the first study to examine metaphor and its relationship with pain catastrophizing.•Pain catastrophizing predicted more frequent metaphor use.•Pain interference, depression, and anxiety were also reflected in descriptions of pain.