CONTEXT: Despite the high prevalence of a myofascial pain component in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) syndromes, awareness and management of this component are lacking among health care providers.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current state of the art for the management of myofascial pain in chronic primary pelvic pain syndromes (CPPPS) according to scientific research and input from experts from the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines panel on CPP.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A narrative review was undertaken using three sources: (1) information in the EAU guidelines on CPP; (2) information retrieved from the literature on research published in the past 3 yr on myofascial pelvic pain; and (3) expert opinion from panel members.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Studies confirm a high prevalence of a myofascial pain component in CPPPS. Examination of the pelvic floor muscles should follow published recommendations to standardize findings and disseminate the procedure. Treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and pain in the context of CPP was found to contribute to CPP control and is feasible via different physiotherapy techniques. A multidisciplinary approach is the most effective.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite its high prevalence, the myofascial component of CPP has been underevaluated and undertreated to date. Myofascial pain must be assessed in all patients with CPPPS. Treatment of the myofascial pain component is relevant for global treatment success. Further studies are imperative to reinforce and better define the role of each physiotherapy technique in CPPPS.

PATIENT SUMMARY: Pain and inflammation of the body's muscle and soft tissues (myofascial pain) frequently occurs in pelvic pain syndromes. Its presence must be evaluated to optimize management for each patient. If diagnosed, myofascial pain should be treated.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pain affects about 20%-40% of the population and is linked to mental health outcomes and impaired daily functioning. Pharmacological interventions are commonly insufficient for producing relief and recovery of functioning. Behavioural health treatment is key to generate lasting benefits across outcome domains. However, most people with chronic pain cannot easily access evidence-based behavioural interventions. The overall aim of the DAHLIA project is to develop, evaluate and implement a widely accessible digital behavioural health treatment to improve well-being in individuals with chronic pain.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The project follows the four phases of the mHealth Agile Development and Evaluation Lifecycle: (1) development and pre-implementation surveillance using focus groups, stakeholder interviews and a business model; (2) iterative optimisation studies applying single case experimental design (SCED) method in 4-6 iterations with n=10 patients and their healthcare professionals per iteration; (3) a two-armed clinical randomised controlled trial enhanced with SCED (n=180 patients per arm) and (4) interview-based post-market surveillance. Data analyses include multilevel modelling, cost-utility and indicative analyses.In October 2021, inter-sectorial partners are engaged and funding is secured for four years. The treatment content is compiled and the first treatment prototype is in preparation. Clinical sites in three Swedish regions are informed and recruitment for phase 1 will start in autumn 2021. To facilitate long-term impact and accessibility, the treatment will be integrated into a Swedish health platform (www.1177.se), which is used on a national level as a hub for advice, information, guidance and e-services for health and healthcare.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study plan has been reviewed and approved by Swedish ethical review authorities. Findings will be actively disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, social media and outreach activities for the wider public.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05066087.

OBJECTIVES: Behavioral eHealth interventions can enhance self-management and improve well-being in people with chronic pain. The development of these interventions calls for a user-centered approach to ensure that patient needs are appreciated. However, it may be challenging to involve patients; particularly during the early stages of the process. Fictional user profiles, known as Personas, can represent needs and guide designing eHealth interventions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the use of Personas in the development of behavioral eHealth interventions for people with chronic pain with the aim to identify benefits and challenges.

METHODS: Bibliographic databases (Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, PsycInfo, CINAHL) and registries (PubMed Central, medaRxiv) were systematically searched. In a double-reviewing process, n = 6830 hits and n = 351 full-texts were screened and read. Ten peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2022 were included in the narrative synthesis.

FINDINGS: Ten studies reported using "Pain Personas" in the development of eHealth interventions for such purposes as to gain a shared understanding of the user and to discuss solutions in team meetings, or for patients to identify with (if Personas are included in the intervention). Personas were based on qualitative and/or quantitative data. However, the procedure for creating Personas was only described in half of the included studies (n = 5). These five studies provided descriptive details of the Personas (i.e., picture, name, narrative of their pain behavior, technological skills, and motivation).

CONCLUSIONS: Although Personas have been used by pain researchers in recent projects and were highlighted as an important ingredient in the development process, available design guidelines for the creation and use of Personas are not followed or communicated transparently. Benefits and challenges when using Personas in the development of eHealth interventions for people with chronic pain are discussed to support future eHealth efforts and to improve the quality of eHealth innovation in the field of pain.

Adolescents are at risk of sleep deficit, which has serious consequences for their daytime functioning. However, school-based interventions to improve sleep have shown limited success. This might be due to the content of the programmes (e.g., not targeting central factors such as daytime stress and technology use) or because changes have not been captured due to a lack of long-term follow-ups. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a school-based sleep education curriculum including time-management training. The study used a quasi-experimental design. Participants were 3,622 adolescents (mean age 13.7, 48% girls); 286 were in the intervention group and 3,336 were followed as a natural control group. Data were collected before the intervention and at a 1-year follow-up. We divided participants into three groups according to baseline sleep duration (calculated from self-reported bed- and wake times, minus sleep onset latency): insufficient (<7 hr), borderline (7-8 hr) and adequate (>8 hr). Adolescents in the intervention group were ~2 times less likely to report insufficient sleep at follow-up as compared to controls. Sleep knowledge improved significantly in the intervention group but there were no changes in emotional sleep hygiene (e.g., bedtime worry) and perceived stress. Surprisingly, technology use increased and behavioural sleep hygiene worsened in the intervention group. Although the mechanisms of change need further investigation, the results of this study point to potential long-term benefits of school-based sleep programmes.

Objectives: The first aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sleep deficit in a large sample of adolescents. Second, the study aimed to assess whether short sleep duration in the sample was associated with emotional and behavioral problems. Lastly, the study aimed to investigate the association between daily stressors-bedtime activities and sleep duration.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: The questionnaires were completed during school hours in 17 municipal junior high schools in Sweden.

Participants: A total of 2767 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, 48% girls.

Measurements and Results: Sleep measures included total sleep time (TST) for schooldays and weekends, obtained as combined measures of self-reported bed-time, wake-time, and sleep onset latency. We used the new National Sleep Foundation's guidelines to operationalize sleep duration. Overall 12% of younger adolescents (age 12-13 years) and 18% of older adolescents (14-16 years) slept less than recommended (TST < 7 hours). Adolescents reporting nonrecommended TST also reported more behavioral (ie, norm-breaking behaviors) and emotional problems (ie, depression, anxiety, and anger), with effects in the small-medium range. Finally, adolescents reporting bedtime arousal and use of information and communication technology in bed were more likely to report TST < 7 hours. Stress at home (for younger adolescents) and stress of school performance (for older adolescents) were also associated with TST less than 7 hours.

Conclusions: The new National Sleep Foundation's recommendations were informative in this context. Future sleep interventions need to target barriers to good sleep practices, such as use of information and communication technology, stress, and worry that may contribute to arousal at bedtime.

Sleep patterns go through important changes during adolescence and sleep deprivation is extremely common, with severe consequences for adolescents´ daily functioning (Owens et al., 2014).

Previous school-based interventions attempting to prevent sleep problems and their consequences have shown an increase in adolescents´ sleep knowledge but no behavioral changes. These programs usually include sleep education, cognitive and behavioral strategies, and a motivational framework (Cassoff, Knäuper, Michaelsen, & Gruber, 2013). Although the importance of motivation and engagement is unquestionable, previous attempts at enhancing adolescents´ motivation to change sleep behaviors might have been too shallow. We developed a new program that specifically targets barriers adolescents may encounter when trying to change their sleep behaviors, such as use of information and communication technology (ICT) late in the evening, stress due to schoolwork, and extracurricular activities. So, the intervention did not only focus on sleep education but also on improving students’ time management skills and encouraging them to monitor their ICT use. We also developed an interactive app for the intervention to increase engagement and to take advantage of the opportunities of ICT.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this classroom delivered universal sleep intervention. More specifically, we wanted to investigate whether changes in technology usage and perceived stress preceded changes in adolescents´ sleep duration. The intervention consisted of 5x45 min sessions over 6-7 weeks. Students (N = 292) completed weekly questionnaires through the app including a sleep diary for school-week and weekend sleep (bedtime, wake time, sleep onset latency, and wake after sleep onset), mobile usage, and motivation to change. They also completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, including self-reported sleep hygiene, perceived stress, and mood. At the end of the intervention students provided a qualitative evaluation of the sleep program.

The intervention is still ongoing and will be completed by the end of the school year (June 2016). So far, the intervention has shown good feasibility in the school context. Preliminary results will be presented on possible changes in sleep duration and sleep hygiene and the role of ICT use and stress.

This study will give us important information on adolescents´ sleep and its barriers in our 24/7 society. The discussion will focus on the possibilities of using this kind of preventive school-based interventions, as well as how modern technology (i.e. an interactive app) may be used for promoting engagement in this age group.

Aim: The first aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and incidence of poor sleep duration (<7 hours) over a one year period in a large sample of adolescents. The second aim was to inform prevention about the influence of adolescents´ social context on sleep duration. Therefore, we wanted to describe the longitudinal association between the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at bedtime and daily stressors (e.g. school performance, family and peer issues) and poor sleep duration.

Method: Participants were high school students in the 7th and 8th grade (N = 2505; age range: 12-15 years, at baseline) from 17 public schools in three communities in middle Sweden. Students filled out questionnaires in school during the spring, 2014 and one year later (85% retention rate). Sleep measures included bed time (BT), wake up time (WUT), and sleep onset latency (SOL). Total sleep time was calculated as, BT + WUT - SOL.

We calculated prevalence, incidence, and chronicity of poor sleep duration. Moreover, the effect of ICT and daily stressors on future sleep duration was estimated with odds ratios, controlling for gender.

Results: Prevalence (18.6%), incidence (12.8%) and chronicity (50%) rates indicate that poor sleep duration was persistent and increased one year later. Moreover, adolescents who often used ICT at bedtime (OR = 1.21, p < .001) and reported more school stress (OR = 1.16, p = .02), were more likely to report poor sleep duration one year later.

Conclusion: Because poor sleep duration is common and persists over time, it is crucial to intervene early to prevent chronic sleep deprivation. Sleep interventions with younger adolescence, before chronicity occurs, should focus on barriers to change, such as stress and use of technology. The results from this study have been used to develop an early school-based intervention.

Objectives: Sleep has important consequences for a person's daytime functioning. Numerous studies have shown that insomnia predicts work absenteeism and work disability in adults, but only a few studies have examined this association in adolescents. This study aims to explore whether symptoms of insomnia in adolescents predict school absenteeism 1 year later, over and above known psychological risk factors for absenteeism.

Design: The study used a longitudinal design with 2 measurement points over 1 year.

Setting: The students completed questionnaires during school hours at baseline and again at follow-up.

Participants: Students in the 10th to 12th grades in a Swedish upper secondary school were followed prospectively for 1 year (age, 16-20 years; N = 353; 48.1% girls).

Measurements and results: We used logistic regression analyses, controlling for the known effects of psychological factors, and arrived at a model elucidating the role of insomnia. That is, besides symptoms of insomnia, the model included previous absenteeism, alcohol intoxication, school-related social phobia, social anxiety, depressive symptoms, somatic symptoms, and bully victimization. Symptoms of insomnia predicted school absenteeism 1 year later, over and above known risk factors for absenteeism. Adolescents reporting severe symptoms of insomnia were almost 3 times more likely than adolescents reporting no or low symptoms to report problematic absenteeism 1 year later. We did not find any gender difference.

Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of sleep problems on adolescents' daytime functioning as measured by school absenteeism. Therefore, sleep may be an important target for preventive interventions with adolescents.

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial had two main aims. The first aim was to investigate the effect of early preventive, psychologically informed, interventions for pain-related disability. The second aim was explore whether people who are matched to an intervention specifically targeting their psychological risk profile had better outcomes than people who were not matched to interventions.

Methods: A total of 105 participants were recruited from their workplace, screened for psychological risk factors and classified as being at risk for long-term pain-related disability. They were subgrouped into one of three groups based on their psychological profile. Three behaviorally oriented psychological interventions were developed to target each of the three risk profiles. Half of the participants were assigned a matched intervention developed to target their specific profile, and half were assigned an unmatched intervention. After treatment, repeated measure ANOVAs and χ² tests were used to determine if treatments had an effect on primary and secondary outcomes including perceived disability, sick leave, fear and avoidance, pain catastrophizing and distress, and if matched participants had better outcomes than did unmatched.

Results: Treatments had effects on all outcome variables (effect sizes d ranging between 0.23 and 0.66), but matched participants did not have better outcomes than unmatched.

Conclusions: Early, preventive interventions have an impact on a number of outcome variables but it is difficult to realize a matching procedure. More in-depth research of the process of matching is needed.

Psykologer har den expertkunskap som krävs för att behandla dagens ohälsa, och regionen riskerar skapa en närsjukvård som tillhör B-laget genom att inte ta vara på psykologers kompetens. Evidensen pekar tydligt ut psykologisk behandling som förstahandsval vid behandling av sömnsvårigheter, depression, ångest och stressproblematik – ändå ignoreras psykologers kunskap i den arbetsgrupp som tillsatts för att tackla nutidens problematik i primärvården.

Co-occuring pain and emotional difficulties are strikingly common and a true challenge in the clinic. Nearly all pain patients suffer from some kind of emotional distress. Difficulties with emotion regulation has been pointed out as one core process, which may explain the high co-occurrence of pain and emotional distress. Current treatments have not succeeded in helping pain patients with high levels of emotional distress, and therefore a new treatment approach has been developed, based on emotion regulation theory, DBT and exposure techniques. This presentation will describe the theory behind this new intervention and present preliminary data from a randomized controlled trial in patients with chronic pain and emotional distress. This trial compares the effectiveness of a DBT inspired exposure treatment with internet-based CBT for chronic pain.

The comorbidity between chronic pain and emotional problems has proven difficult to address with current treatment options. This study addresses the efficacy of a transdiagnostic emotion-focused exposure treatment ("hybrid") for chronic pain patients with comorbid emotional problems. Adults (n = 115) with chronic musculoskeletal pain and functional and emotional problems were included in a 2-centre, parallel randomized controlled, open-label trial comparing this treatment to an active control condition receiving a guided Internet-delivered pain management treatment based on CBT principles (iCBT). The hybrid treatment (n = 58, 10-16 sessions) integrates exposure in vivo for chronic pain based on the fear-avoidance model with an emotion-regulation approach informed by procedures in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. The iCBT (n = 57; 8 treatment modules) addresses topics such as pain education, coping strategies, relaxation, problem solving, stress, and sleep management using standard CBT techniques. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed before and after treatment as well as at a 9-month primary end point. Across conditions, 78% participants completed post-treatment and 81% follow-up assessment. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that the hybrid had a significantly better post-treatment outcome on pain catastrophizing (d = 0.39) and pain interference (d = 0.63) and significantly better follow-up outcomes on depression (d = 0.43) and pain interference (d = 0.51). There were no differences on anxiety and pain intensity. Observed proportions of clinically significant improvement favoured the hybrid on all but one comparison, but no statistically significant differences were observed. We conclude that the hybrid emotion-focused treatment may be considered an acceptable, credible, and efficacious treatment option for chronic pain patients with comorbid emotional problems.

Co-occurring pain and emotional difficulties are strikingly common and a true challenge in the clinic. Nearly all pain patients suffer from some kind of emotional distress. In the last decade, research in the field has started to focus on the role of underlying processes in concurrent problems with pain and emotional distress. This symposium is therefore focused on the link between pain and emotion and will highlight new perspectives on processes, theoretical as well as clinical. Talks will address the role of biological mechanisms, interpersonal contexts and the development of the new treatment approaches.

Poor emotion regulation has been pointed out as one core process, which may explain the high co-occurrence of pain and emotional distress. Current treatments have not succeeded in helping paon patients with high levels of emotional distress, and therefore a new treatment approach has been developed, based on emotion regulation theory and exposure techniques. Dr. Katja Boersma will describe the theory beind this new intervention and present preliminary data from an RCT in patients with chronic pain and emotional distress.

Another treatment approach with well documented effects in this area is ACT. However, large variability in treatment effects can be seen consistently across studies and predictors of outcome remain unclear. Few studies have yet investigated the role of biological processes in ACT. Dr. Rikard Wicksell will briefly describe ACT for patients with chronic pain, bring up recent findings on ACT and neuroscience, and discuss implications for future research and clinical development.

Pain-related fear is a salient emotion in many pain patients, which tend to lead to avoidance of movements or activities. Avoidance behaviors are negatively reinfrced as they lead to less pain for the moment; in the long run, however, it often results in inactivity and disuse. Furthermore, a change in neural response profile, so called cortical reorganization, occurs in cortical sensory and motor areas. Targeting immobilisation and cortical reorganisation, using cognitive behavioral, sensory, and motor strategies, may improve function in individuals with chronic pain. Dr. Kristoffer Bothelius will present findings in this area and discuss possible treatment implications.

One way of regulating pain and negative emotions is to share personal experiences with others. However, it is important to know where, when and with whom to share; in other terms, to be context sensitive. The opposite, context insensitivity, has been related to prolonged and exaggerated emotional distress. The theory, importance and potential clinical implications of context sensitivity in the area pf pain and emotional distress will serve the basis for the presentation by Dr. Ida Flink, and data from an ongoing project will be presented.

The link between pain and emotional distress may become extra salient when the pain occurs in an intimate interpersonal context. Vulvovaginal pain in women has been neglected in pain research, but is closely linked to emotional reactions such as fear and anxiety. Dr. Johanna Thomtén will describe the link between pain and emotional distress among women suffering from vulvovaginal pain, presenting data from an ongoing longitudinal project.

BACKGROUND: Treatment recommendations for provoked vulvodynia (PVD) are based on clinical experiences and there is a need for systematically summarizing the controlled trials in this field.

AIM: To provide an overview of randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of intervention for PVD, and to assess the certainty of the scientific evidence, in order to advance treatment guidelines.

DATA SOURCES: The search was conducted in CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Library, Embase (Embase.com), Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO (EBSCO) and Scopus. Databases were searched from January 1, 1990 to January 29, 2021.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Population: Premenopausal women with PVD.

INTERVENTIONS: Pharmacological, surgical, psychosocial and physiotherapy, either alone or as combined/team-based interventions.

CONTROL: No treatment, waiting-list, placebo or other defined treatment.

OUTCOMES: Pain during intercourse, pain upon pressure or touch of the vaginal opening, sexual function/satisfaction, quality of life, psychological distress, adverse events and complications.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions with a control group.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: 2 reviewers independently screened citations for eligibility and assessed relevant studies for risk of bias using established tools. The results from each intervention were summarized. Studies were synthesized using a narrative approach, as meta-analyses were not considered appropriate. For each outcome, we assessed the certainty of evidence using grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE).

RESULTS: Most results of the evaluated studies in this systematic review were found to have very low certainty of evidence, which means that we are unable to draw any conclusions about effects of the interventions. Multimodal physiotherapy compared with lidocaine treatment was the only intervention with some evidential support (low certainty of evidence for significant treatment effects favoring physiotherapy). It was not possible to perform meta-analyses due to a heterogeneity in interventions and comparisons. In addition, there was a heterogeneity in outcome measures, which underlines the need to establish joint core outcome sets.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our result underscores the need of stringent trials and defined core outcome sets for PVD.

STRENGTH AND LIMITATIONS: Standard procedures for systematic reviews and the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome model for clinical questions were used. The strict eligibility criteria resulted in limited number of studies which might have resulted in a loss of important information.

CONCLUSION: This systematic review underlines the need for more methodologically stringent trials on interventions for PVD, particularly for multimodal treatments approaches. For future research, there is a demand for joint core outcome sets.

Bohm-Starke N, Ramsay KW, Lytsy P, et al. Treatment of Provoked Vulvodynia: A Systematic Review. J Sex Med 2021;XX:XXX-XXX.

INTRODUCTION: Although erectile dysfunction (ED) involves an interaction between physiological and psychological pathways, the psychosocial aspects of ED have received considerably less attention so far.

AIM: To review the available evidence on the psychosocial aspects of ED in order to develop a position statement and clinical practice recommendations on behalf of the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM).

METHOD: A comprehensive, narrative review of the literature was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Specific statements and recommendations according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence criteria were provided.

RESULTS: A multidisciplinary treatment, in which medical treatment is combined with a psychological approach, is preferred over unimodal treatment. There is increasing evidence that psychological treatments of ED can improve medical treatments, the patient's adherence to treatment, and the quality of the sexual relationship. The main components of psychological treatment of ED involve cognitive and behavioral techniques aimed at reducing anxiety, challenging dysfunctional beliefs, increasing sexual stimulation, disrupting sexual avoidance, and increasing intimacy and communication skills in a relational context. When applicable and possible, it is strongly recommended to include the partner in the assessment and treatment of ED and to actively work on interpartner agreement and shared decision-making regarding possible treatment options. To ensure a better integration of the biopsychosocial model into clinical practice, developing concrete treatment protocols and training programs are desirable.

CONCLUSION: Because the psychosocial approach to ED has been underexposed so far, this position statement provides valuable information for clinicians treating ED. Psychological interventions on ED are based on existing theoretical models that are grounded in empirical evidence. However, the quality of available studies is low, which calls for further research. The sexual medicine field would benefit from pursuing more diversity, inclusivity, and integration when setting up treatments and evaluating their effect. Dewitte M, Bettocchi C, Carvalho J, et al. A Psychosocial Approach to Erectile Dysfunction: Position Statements from the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM). Sex Med 2021;XX:XXXXXX.

Objectives: Male pelvic pain is a common yet poorly understood condition, strongly influencing quality of life of those affected. Research on psychological and sexual factors is lacking, specifically on younger men in family-forming ages. This study aims to explore psychological and sexual factors related to pelvic pain in younger men (<40 years) through a cross-sectional design.

Methods: Participants were recruited via social media, and completed a digital survey regarding sexual health and psychological distress (n=2,647). Men with varying levels of pelvic pain were compared on levels of psychological distress and self-reported sexual health.

Results: Men with pelvic pain (n=369) reported significantly higher levels of catastrophizing, anxiety and premature ejaculation compared to men without pelvic pain. Furthermore, men with higher pain intensity reported significantly higher levels of catastrophizing, anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to men experiencing lower pain intensity. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed catastrophizing and depressive symptoms as significantly predictors of pain intensity.

Conclusions: These findings underscore the role of psychological factors in male pelvic pain, and points to the need for integrating a psychological understanding for further treatment development.

Objectives: To examine how fear-avoidance influences vulvovaginal pain and sexual function over time.

Method: At baseline and at 10-month follow-up, self-report measures for sexual- and fear avoidance factors were obtained from 483 female university students with and without self-reported vulvovaginal pain.

Results: Individuals with pain at both times reported lower sexual function, and higher levels of fear-avoidance compared to the pain-free group. Fear-avoidance beliefs predicted the occurrence of vulvovaginal pain at follow up and the level of pain intensity.

Conclusion: The results points to the relevance of the components of the fear-avoidance model in vulvovaginal pain over time.

BACKGROUND: Sexual communication is a common target in psychological treatments for vulvodynia, and associations with sexual function and distress, as well as pain intensity, have been demonstrated. However, structured observations of the communication patterns of couples with vulvodynia are lacking, as these are needed to guide treatment efforts.

AIM: To explore (1) the sexual communication patterns in couples with vulvodynia in terms of observed communication quality (operationalized as validating and invalidating responses), self-reported sexual assertiveness, and self-disclosure and (2) associations between sexual communication quality and pain intensity.

METHODS: In a case-control design with within- and between-group comparisons, 62 couples engaged in videotaped discussions about their sexual relationship. Trained coders assessed the discussions by rating sexual communication (validation and invalidation) according to a structured behavioral coding scheme. Group differences in sexual communication quality were examined with parametric and nonparametric tests. Dyadic associations among observed communication quality, self-rated sexual assertiveness, and self-disclosure were examined within the actor-partner interdependence model. Multiple regression was used to test the predictive value of partners' validation/invalidation on the pain intensity of the women with vulvodynia.

OUTCOMES: Observed communication quality (ie, validation and invalidation), self-reported sexual assertiveness, self-disclosure, and pain intensity.

RESULTS: Partners of women with vulvodynia were more invalidating toward their partners than those of women without pain. There were no significant differences in validating/invalidating communication between women in the 2 groups or in validation between partners. Partners' validating communication were significantly associated with women's lower pain intensity. The sexual communication patterns differed between couples with and without vulvodynia, and the associations between validating/invalidating responses and sexual assertiveness were stronger in the vulvodynia group than in the group without pain. Results on validation/invalidation and self-disclosure were inconclusive.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results indicate a need to direct treatment interventions toward couples' sexual communication quality (ie, levels of validation and invalidation).

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths include systematic behavioral coding and dyadic analyses. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and self-selection of participants.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated sexual communication patterns specific to couples with vulvodynia, and we conclude that validation and invalidation are important components of the sexual communication of couples with vulvodynia as they relate to sexual assertiveness, women's self-disclosure, and pain intensity.

BACKGROUND: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common pain condition, negatively impacting the relationships and sexual lives of sufferers. Women's coping behaviour has been associated with psychosexual outcomes, yet coping patterns in clinical PVD samples are unexplored, and it is not known how women's coping relates to their relational context.

METHOD: Women (N = 128) with PVD answered questionnaires about psychosexual function, pain coping (avoidance and endurance), relational- and pain catastrophizing, sexual goals and perceived partner responses. Cluster analysis was used to explore coping patterns; clusters were validated on measures of pain and psychosexual function and compared on catastrophizing, sexual goals and partner responses using multivariate analyses of variance.

RESULTS: The analysis yielded four clusters: endurance; combined high avoidance and endurance; avoidance; and combined low. The group with high levels of both avoidance and endurance coping displayed the worst psychosexual outcomes and high levels of pain- and relational catastrophizing, approach and avoidance goals and perceived negative partner responses.

CONCLUSION: There are distinct patterns of coping among women with PVD, and these coping patterns are associated with psychosexual outcomes and relational cognitions and goals, and perceived partner responses. Women who alternate between avoidance and endurance are more distressed and report worse psychosexual functioning. This pattern needs to be identified and addressed in the treatment of PVD.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study extends previous findings on vulvar pain coping patterns to a clinical population of women with PVD. It is further the first study to address the relationship between relational variables, such as partner responses and relational catastrophizing and different coping patterns. Thus, the contribution of this study is the contextualizing of coping patterns among women with PVD. The results showed that a combined pattern of avoidance and endurance coping is associated with high distress, poor psychosexual outcomes, and indications of insufficient relational coping, highlighting the need for clinical assessment and intervention to target both women's individual coping patterns and their relational context.

This study explores the subjective experiences of dyspareunia among queer women in Sweden. Ten semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with five participants who were all interviewed on two separate occasions. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Dyspareunia was described as affecting the participants' sexual activities, intimate relationships, and identity constructs. Reported struggles involved feelings of sadness, guilt, frustration, and fear of pain. Dyspareunia was described as threatening the participants' queer identities through its effect on their ability to be sexual in idealised ways. However, queer experiences and communities were also found to be associated with advantages in pain management, such as well-developed sexual communication skills, anatomic similarity to their partner, access to non-heteronormative sexual scripts and a focus on nurturing desire. Queer related advantages in pain management are proposed to buffer to some extent against pain interference with sexual function and desire. Findings indicate that it is important to consider the unique relational and social context of queer women to understand their experiences of dyspareunia. More research is needed on the role of differences of normativities, context and communication in dyspareunia.

Background: Recurring vulvovaginal pain is common, with evident effects on affected women's lives. Little is known about how affected women cope with painful sexual activities and how coping relates to pain intensity and psychosexual functioning over time. This prospective study explored the impact of avoidance and endurance on sexual function over time. Additionally, patterns of coping were studied on an individual level to increase knowledge about coping and its relation to psychosexual functioning.

Methods: One hundred and seventeen women, 18-35years old, with recurring vulvovaginal pain answered questionnaires at two measurement points, five months apart, assessing avoidance and endurance coping, pain intensity and psychosexual functioning. A multiple regression model explored the predictive value of avoidance and endurance on sexual function over time. Cluster analyses investigated patterns of coping and stability within the clusters. These subgroups were compared on psychosexual outcomes.

Results: Avoidance at baseline was the only significant predictor of sexual function five months later. Distinct and stable subgroups with different patterns of coping were identified, where avoidance and endurance coping were used both separately and combined. Women who both avoided and endured had the most unfavourable outcomes in terms of psychosexual functioning.

Conclusions: Avoidance of sexual activities was related to reduced sexual function over time, which calls for attention and clinical interventions targeting avoidance. Additionally, women who both avoid and endure sexual activities despite pain possibly need tailored interventions, as women with this coping pattern reported the lowest levels of psychosexual functioning.

Significance: In this prospective study, avoidance of sexual activities predicted sexual function over time, when controlling for pain intensity. Subgroups of women using distinct patterns of coping were identified. Those who both avoided and endured had the lowest levels of psychosexual functioning.

Background: Recurring pain in the vulvovaginal regional induced by touch or pressure is thought to be the most frequent cause of superficial dyspareunia in premenopausal women. Its prevalence is 7-15% in community samples and has a serious impact on couples sexual function, sexual satisfaction, general psychological well-being and overall quality of life.

The last decade of research suggests that psychological factors, such as fear of pain, catastrophizing, and avoidance behavior may contribute to the maintenance and exacerbation of dyspareunia. Conventional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions aim at reducing pain, restoring sexual function and improving the romantic relationship by targeting the thoughts, emotions, behaviors and couple interactions associated with the experience of dyspareunia. Furthermore, given the interpersonal sexual context in which dyspareunia is most often triggered, relationship factors is an important area to address.

Research Questions: The primary purpose is to evaluate whether a CBT group program with partner involvement improves pain during penetration in women with superficial dyspareunia. Secondary objectives are to evaluate women’s (and their partner’s) sexuality (sexual function & satisfaction), psychological adjustment (negative and positive penetration beliefs, pain coping behaviour) and relationship factors (relationship satisfaction). 

Methods: The current study consists of a CBT group treatment program of 10 group sessions and 3 individual couple sessions distributed over a period of 6 months. The study will employ a single case experimental design with multiple baselines (N=6) where each individual represents a case and is randomized to a specific length of baseline. The primary and secondary outcomes will be measured weekly through both baseline and treatment phase to enable investigation of changes in outcome between the two phases. Additionally, secondary outcomes for both women and their partners are measured pre- and post-treatment. Single case experimental designs are recommended as a first step to investigate individual responses to psychological interventions as well as testing interventions as a pilot before implementing treatments in extensive RCT studies (Morley, 2017).

Results: Data collection is in progress and will be completed early June 2018. The results of the study will be presented at the conference.

Introduction: Recurring pain in the vulvar- or vaginal region induced by touch or pressure is common, affecting between 10-28% of women in reproductive age (e.g., Harlow et al., 2014). In addition to evident negative effects on sexual aspects such as frequency of sexual activity, sexual satisfaction and sexual function (for a review see Bergeron et al., 2015), vulvovaginal pain has an impact on women’s overall quality of life (Arnold et al., 2006). Despite these extensive consequences little is known about how women with vulvovaginal pain actually cope with sexual activities and the subsequent pain, and how their coping may affect the pain experience and sexual function over time. While avoidance (of pain associated activities) seem to be a commonly used strategy (for a review see Thomtén and Linton, 2013) amongst women with vulvovaginal pain, there is also evidence of endurance (of sexual activity despite pain) as a prevalent strategy (Brauer et al., 2014; Elmerstig et al., 2013).

Method: The study used questionnaire data from female university students between 18 and 35 years old, with two measurement points of five months apart. Women who reported experiencing recurring vulvovaginal pain during the last six months, and who responded at both measurement points constitute the sample of the study (N=117). First, multiple regression analysis was executed to test whether avoidance and endurance coping had a predictive value of sexual function beyond the pain experience in itself. Then, cluster analyses based on the respondent’s answers to the CHAMP Sexual Pain Coping Scale (CSPCS) were performed at both time points. Finally, common pathways over time was investigated to explore whether the same coping was used at baseline and follow-up.

Results: The multiple regression model exploring if pain, avoidance and endurance at baseline predicted sexual function at follow-up was significant, explaining 25% of the variance (F(2, 90) = 10.22, p < .001). Avoidance at baseline was the only significant predictor in the model, explaining unique variance of sexual function over time. The cluster analyses at baseline and follow up resulted in four distinct clusters respectively; Low scores, Avoidance, Endurance and High scores. The common pathways analyses, exploring typical pathways of change, revealed high stability within the clusters over time meaning that it was common for individuals in all clusters to use the same patterns of coping at both measurement points.

Discussion: The results of the study further manifests findings from earlier research while also making an important attribution in quantifying coping strategies in relation to vulvovaginal pain. The study reveals a strong association between vulvovaginal pain and how women cope with sexual activities, the stability of the use of coping over time, as well as the connection between coping and sexual function.

Utility/Limitations/Risks: Further knowledge about the relationship between coping and vulvovaginal pain will provide important theoretical and clinical implications regarding the development of the pain as well as potential clinical interventions.

Behavioral learning objectives:

After attending this poster presentation, the participants will be able to:

1. Recognize the importance of avoidance coping in relation to sexual function

2. Discuss the use of avoidance and endurance coping as a combined pattern

3. Identify the stability of the use of coping patterns over time

References:

Arnold, L. D., Bachmann, G. A., Kelly, S., Rosen, R., & Rhoads, G. G. (2006). Vulvodynia: characteristics and associations with co-morbidities and quality of life. Obstetrics and gynecology, 107(3), 617.

Bergeron, S., Corsini-Munt, S., Aerts, L., Rancourt, K., & Rosen, N. O. (2015). Female sexual pain disorders: a review of the literature on etiology and treatment. Current Sexual Health Reports, 7(3), 159-169.

Brauer, M., Lakeman, M., Lunsen, R., & Laan, E. (2014). Predictors of task‐persistent and fear‐avoiding behaviors in women with sexual pain disorders. The journal of sexual medicine, 11(12), 3051-3063.

Elmerstig, E., Wijma, B., & Swahnberg, K. (2013). Prioritizing the partner’s enjoyment: a population-based study on young Swedish women with experience of pain during vaginal intercourse. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 34(2), 82-89.

Harlow, B. L., Kunitz, C. G., Nguyen, R. H., Rydell, S. A., Turner, R. M., & MacLehose, R. F. (2014). Prevalence of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of vulvodynia: population-based estimates from 2 geographic regions. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 210(1), 40-e1.

Thomtén, J., & Linton, S. J. (2013). A psychological view of sexual pain among women: applying the fear-avoidance model. Women’s Health, 9(3), 251-263.

Vulvodynia is common and has an immense impact on affected women and their partners. Psychological factors have been found to contribute to pain maintenance and exacerbation, and treatments addressing psychological factors have yielded positive results. This study employed a replicated single-case experimental design to examine a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group treatment with partner involvement in vulvodynia. Repeated measures of pain intensity related to pain-inflicting behaviors were collected weekly throughout baseline and treatment phases. Associated outcomes were measured pre-, post- and at two follow-up assessments. Participants were 18-45-year-old women, in a stable sexual relationship with a man, experiencing vulvodynia. Five women completed the treatment consisting of 10 group sessions and 3 couple sessions. Data were analyzed through visual inspection and supplementary nonparametric calculations. The study showed promising results of the CBT treatment in alleviating pain intensity in connection to specific pain-inflicting behavior since three out of five participants showed improvements. For the participants who improved, sexual function, pain catastrophizing, avoidance, and endurance behavior changed during treatment and were maintained at follow-ups. These results warrant further study of the CBT treatment, in larger, and controlled formats.

Rationale/Background: Recurring vulvovaginal pain is a common problem among women, affecting between 8-30 % of women in reproductive age.  In addition to evident negative effects regarding sexual activities, -function and -satisfaction, vulvovaginal pain also has an impact on the individual’s daily life as well as overall quality of life. Despite these extensive consequences little is known about how women with vulvovaginal pain actually cope with sexual activities and the subsequent pain.

Research Questions: The study aims to explore how women with vulvovaginal pain cope with sexual activities that has an impact on their pain, and whether certain ways to cope are more or less adaptive in regards to a spectrum of psychosexual aspects.

Methods: The study is based on a student sample of women between 18 and 35 years old with recurring vulvovaginal pain (N=289). The CHAMP Sexual Pain Coping Scale (CSPCS) was created to measure coping behaviors among women with vulvovaginal pain. The scale was based on previous qualitative research where three apparent patterns of coping strategies has emerged; avoidance-, endurance- and alternative coping. Based on how the women responded to the avoidance- and endurance subscales of the CSPCS, cluster analysis resulted in four distinct groups of women with different profiles of coping. The coping subgroups were then compared in regards to several psychosexual factors.

Results: The results showed that women suffering from vulvovaginal pain cope with sexual activities and the subsequent pain in different ways. Women who showed a pattern of high avoidance and endurance coping strategies reported significantly higher levels of pain, lower sexual function, less sexual satisfaction and lower quality of life. In contrast, women who reported low levels of avoidance and endurance coping strategies showed significantly lower levels of pain, higher sexual function, as well as a higher satisfaction with their sex life and life in general.

Conclusions: The results of the study further manifests findings from earlier research while also making an important attribution in quantifying coping strategies in relation to vulvovaginal pain. Causal conclusions can not be drawn since the study is based on cross-sectional data. Hence, there is no knowledge to whether the coping strategy is a result of the individual’s current pain level or if the coping has an effect on the pain and associated psychosexual aspects. However, the study clearly reveals a strong association between vulvovaginal pain and how women cope with sexual activities. Future knowledge about this relationship will provide important theoretical and clinical implications regarding the development of the pain as well as potential clinical interventions.

Introduction: Recurring vulvovaginal pain is common, affecting between 8-30 % of women in reproductive age.  In addition to evident negative effects regarding sexual function and -satisfaction, vulvovaginal pain also has an impact on sufferers overall quality of life. Despite these extensive consequences little is known about how women with vulvovaginal pain actually cope with pain-triggering sexual activities. Knowledge about coping strategies in this area would give important clinical implications in both creating and targeting effective treatment interventions.

Aims: The study aims to explore if the use of coping strategies in relation to pain-triggering sexual activities are stable over time, or if different strategies are used dependent of pain level or situation. A further aim is to explore the relationship between coping and a spectrum of psychosexual aspects over time.

Method. The study consists of a student sample of women between 18-35 years old with recurring vulvovaginal pain who responded to a questionnaire at three separate time points (Base line: N=289; 6 months: N=153; 12 months: N= 126). Based on the CHAMP Sexual Pain Coping Scale (CSPCS), which measures avoidance- and endurance coping, cluster analysis was performed to group participants into distinct subgroups of individuals who reported similar coping strategies. The same procedure was performed at each assessment point to explore whether the individuals moved between the subgroups. Lastly the subgroups were compared in regards to several psychosexual factors.

Discussion. The results will be discussed at the presentation when analyses are completed.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate how various physical and psychological factors are linked to disability attributed to symptoms from increased interrecti distance (IRD) in women after childbirth.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, 141 women with an IRD of at least 2 finger widths and whose youngest child was between the ages of 1 and 8 years participated. A multilinear regression model was performed with disability as the outcome variable and fear-avoidance beliefs, emotional distress, body mass index, lumbopelvic pain, IRD, and physical activity level as predictor variables.

RESULTS: The regression model accounted for 60% (R2 = 0.604, adjusted R2 = 0.586) of the variance in disability (F6,132 = 33.5). The 2 strongest predictors were lumbopelvic pain with a regression coefficient of 1.4 (95% CI = 1.017 to 1.877) and fear avoidance with a regression coefficient of 0.421 (95% CI = 0.287 to 0.555). The actual IRD, with a regression coefficient of -0.133 (95% CI = -1.154 to 0.888), did not contribute significantly to the variation in disability.

CONCLUSION: Disability attributed to symptoms from an increased IRD is explained primarily by the level of lumbopelvic pain but also by the degree of fear-avoidance beliefs and emotional distress.

IMPACT: This study highlights pain intensity and psychological factors as crucial factors for understanding disability attributed to increased IRD.

OBJECTIVES: The term context sensitivity refers to whether a response is in tune with the ever changing demands of the context, while insensitivity is the lack of responding to these cues. To date, we know little about how well patients with pain respond emotionally to changes in the cues provided by the social context, that is, how emotionally context (in)sensitive they are and if this is related to problem severity. The aim of this experimental study was to test a method for determining levels of context sensitivity in individuals with subacute and chronic pain and to explore the link between context (in)sensitivity and pain-related problems. We operationalized context (in)sensitivity as participants' emotional responses (observed facial expressions and self-reported affect) and pain bothersomeness in these contexts and explored the association between these context-(in)sensitive social-emotional responses and pain-related problems.

METHODS: Sixty-two participants with pain were cued to talk openly about three different topics consecutively in a counterbalanced order: (1) their pain, (2) a negative non-pain topic, and (3) a positive non-pain topic. We measured the participants' emotional responses (observed facial expressions and self-reported affect) and pain bothersomeness across these contexts and explored the effect of social-emotional responding on pain-related problems.

RESULTS: The results showed that, irrespective of individuals' baseline levels of pain bothersomeness, positive affect, and negative affect, those who reacted with more negative affect and pain bothersomeness when prompted to discuss a positive topic had higher levels of pain-related problems. Moreover, those who showed more negative facial expressions and pain bothersomeness when prompted to discuss a negative non-pain topic also had higher levels of pain-related problems.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight a link between sensitivity to the social context and the severity of a pain problem. We showed that individuals with greater problem severity were less sensitive to social cues in their emotional responses, as compared to individuals with less pain-related problems. As predicted, context-insensitive responding appears to be most strongly associated with pain-related problems when dealing with negative emotions. Although the cross-sectional nature of the study prohibits causal conclusions, our findings demonstrate a link and future research is clearly needed to unravel the role of context sensitivity in the development of pain over time.

Statement of contributionWhat is already known on this subject?

• Responding to social cues seems to be important for adaptation to pain. The term context sensitivity refers to whether a response is in tune with the provided social cue. To date, we know little about how well patients with persistent pain respond emotionally to changes in the social context, that is, how context (in)sensitive they are and if this is linked to problem severity.

What does this study add?

• A test of a method for determining levels of context sensitivity in individuals with persistent pain.
• Information about to what extent individuals with chronic pain respond context sensitively.
• Knowledge on the link between social context sensitivity and level of pain problems.

Pain catastrophizing emerges in the literature as one of the most important psychological determinants of both pain itself and the negative outcomes commonly associated with it. However, despite decades of research confirming the impact of catastrophizing, there are still areas that remain unexplored or in which the surface has only been scratched. The overall aim of this dissertation was to expand existing knowledge about catastrophizing and to advance the theoretical framework around the concept.

The role of catastrophizing was explored in three distinct areas: during pain in childbirth, in exposure treatment for back pain patients, and in a problem solving context. The findings from the three studies confirmed the vital role of catastrophizing in these areas. Firstly, catastrophizing played a critical role in pain in childbirth; women who catastrophized reported labor pain as more intense and the subsequent recovery period as longer than women who did not catastrophize. Secondly, catastrophizing was identified as a moderator of treatment effect in exposure in vivo for back pain patients with pain-related fear; patients who catastrophized were not helped by the exposure. Thirdly, catastrophizing played a role in a problem solving context; although this is in line with contemporary models such as the misdirected problem solving model, the results suggested a somewhat different pathway to this previous model. Taken together, these findings underscore the instrumental role of catastrophizing in diverse areas and imply a need for catastrophzing to be assessed and addressed in clinical contexts. In addition, the findings highlight a need for further development of the theoretical framework around catastrophizing as well as treatment interventions that directly target catastrophizing. Based on these needs, a new model of catastrophizing was proposed – a model of catastrophizing from a process perspective. In this model, the proposed function of catastrophizing is to down-regulate negative affect, as a form of internal avoidance. The model is a complement to existing theoretical models and provides a framework for developing treatment interventions that directly target catastrophizing, for example by problem solving skills training. Successful interventions for people who catastrophize would lead to several gains – for the individual in less suffering and increased ability to handle pain problems, and for society as a whole in reduced costs for health care for these individuals.

This investigation was an initial attempt to explore psychological factors that might help or hinder the effect of exposure in vivo for patients with musculoskeletal pain and pain-related fear. The study was based on data from a randomized-controlled trial for patients with non-specific spinal pain (Linton et al., 2008).

First, catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression were studied as possible treatment moderators. We found evidence that catastrophizing was a moderator of treatment outcome in exposure. When further exploring the nature of the relationship between catastrophizing and outcome, the results showed that the exposure was effective only for patients with low or moderate levels of catastrophizing. High catastrophizers did not improve from the treatment. On the other hand, anxiety was a general predictor of poor outcome, and not a specific moderator of outcome in exposure. In contrast, depression was not significantly related to outcome.

Next, patients were divided into high change participants and low change participants based on their improvement in disability after treatment in order to investigate the change in psychological variables during treatment. Descriptive data indicated that high change participants had large improvements across treatment on depression, anxiety, catastrophizing, and fear-avoidance beliefs whereas low change participants virtually did not change at all on these variables across treatment.

These findings denote that catastrophizing is a moderator of treatment outcome in exposure whereas several psychological variables might be important for the treatment process

Catastrophizing and depressed mood are risk factors for poor outcome in treatments for pain and appear to act as mediators for favorable outcome. However, little is known about how catastrophizing and depressed mood co-occur within individuals and how these patterns change during treatment, which is the focus of the current study. The study uses data from a randomized controlled trial about early cognitive behaviorally oriented interventions for patients with nonspecific spinal pain (N = 84). Cluster analyses were used to extract subgroups of individuals with similar scoring patterns on catastrophizing and depressed mood at pretreatment, mid-treatment, posttreatment, and at 6 months' follow-up. To track individual progress, the clusters were linked over time. The analyses revealed four clusters: "low depression and catastrophizing", "high depression and catastrophizing", "high depression", and "high catastrophizing". There was little individual transition from one scoring pattern to another across time, not at least for those scoring high on both depressed mood and catastrophizing. Moreover, high stability within this cluster was related to low levels of psychological flexibility at baseline. It is concluded that catastrophizing and depressed mood at the start of treatment were likely to remain high despite a cognitive behavioral intervention and that a lack of psychological flexibility may have a role.

Pain catastrophizing is a well-known concept in the pain literature and has been recognized as one of the most powerful psychological determinants of negative outcomes for pain problems. However, relatively little effort has been put into developing its theoretical underpinnings. More specifically, the intrinsic function of catastrophizing is not explicitly dealt with in contemporary theoretical models. The aim of this article is to add to existing models by proposing a development of the conceptualization of catastrophizing that stresses its function as an emotion regulator. We argue that catastrophizing can be conceptualized as a form of negative repetitive thinking, which is abstract, intrusive, and difficult to disengage from. It has been argued that repetitive negative thinking is a form of ineffective problem solving that functions to downregulate negative affect and that it can be regarded as an avoidant coping strategy because it impedes processing of emotional and somatic responses. Thus, in our conceptualization, catastrophizing is proposed to be a form of problem-solving behavior that functions to reduce negative emotion triggered by pain, and other related stimuli. Furthermore, we argue that catastrophizing is preferably regarded as a process where cognitions, emotions, and overt behavior are intertwined and not viewed as separate entities. To underscore the latter, we suggest the term catastrophic worry. Our intention with this development of the conceptualization is to give rise to new ideas for research and clinical practice and to revitalize discussions about the theoretical framework around pain-related catastrophizing.

Objectives.  The aim is to explore pain catastrophizing from a problem-solving perspective. The links between catastrophizing, problem framing, and problem-solving behaviour are examined through two possible models of mediation as inferred by two contemporary and complementary theoretical models, the misdirected problem solving model (Eccleston & Crombez, 2007) and the fear-anxiety-avoidance model (Asmundson, Norton, & Vlaeyen, 2004).

Design.  In this prospective study, a general population sample (n= 173) with perceived problems with spinal pain filled out questionnaires twice; catastrophizing and problem framing were assessed on the first occasion and health care seeking (as a proxy for medically oriented problem solving) was assessed 7 months later.

Methods.  Two different approaches were used to explore whether the data supported any of the proposed models of mediation. First, multiple regressions were used according to traditional recommendations for mediation analyses. Second, a bootstrapping method (n= 1000 bootstrap resamples) was used to explore the significance of the indirect effects in both possible models of mediation.

Results.  The results verified the concepts included in the misdirected problem solving model. However, the direction of the relations was more in line with the fear-anxiety-avoidance model. More specifically, the mediation analyses provided support for viewing catastrophizing as a mediator of the relation between biomedical problem framing and medically oriented problem-solving behaviour.

Conclusion.  These findings provide support for viewing catastrophizing from a problem-solving perspective and imply a need to examine and address problem framing and catastrophizing in back pain patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic vulvovaginal pain is strikingly common and has a serious impact on women's lives. Nevertheless, there are few longitudinal studies focusing on mechanisms involved in the pain development. One area of interest is how women cope with sexual activities and how this affects their pain. In this study, avoidance and endurance coping behaviors were explored as possible mediators of the relation between catastrophizing and pain, cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

METHODS: 251 women (18-35 years old) with vulvovaginal pain were recruited in university settings and filled out questionnaires about their pain, catastrophizing and coping behaviors at two occasions, with five months in between. Multiple mediation models were tested, exploring avoidance and endurance as mediators of the relation between catastrophizing and pain.

RESULTS: The results showed that avoidance was an influential mediator of the link between catastrophizing and pain. Using multiple mediation models we found that although the indirect effects of both avoidance and endurance were significant cross-sectionally, only avoidance was a significant mediator in the combined model exploring associations over time.

CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the strategies women with vulvovaginal pain use for coping with sexual activities are important for the course of pain. Avoidance and, to a lesser degree, endurance strategies were identified as important mediators of the effects of catastrophizing on pain. When exploring the links over time, only avoidance emerged as a significant mediator.

IMPLICATIONS: In this longitudinal study, catastrophizing was linked to vulvovaginal pain, via avoidance and endurance of sexual activities. Hence, targeting catastrophizing early on in treatment, as well as addressing coping, may be important in clinical interventions.

The aim of this prospective study was to explore the role of catastrophizing in vulvovaginal pain. The study entails two research questions. The first question was whether catastrophizing predicts the occurrence of vulvovaginal pain. The second question focused on exploring the links between catastrophizing, partner responses and pain. Five hundred and ten women filled out questionnaires at two measurement points, 10months apart. The women were divided into three groups based on levels of catastrophizing. To study the first research question, the groups were used as predictors of pain at follow-up. To study the second research question, the groups were compared regarding their perceived solicitous partner responses. Subsequently, two mediation models were tested to explore whether catastrophizing mediated the relationship between solicitous partner responses and pain, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Baseline levels of catastrophizing distinguished between pain and no pain 10months later. High catastrophizers reported higher levels of solicitous partner responses than low catastrophizers. The mediation analyses revealed catastrophizing as a significant mediator between solicitous partner responses and pain, cross-sectionally and over time. The findings support catastrophizing as being an important factor in women with vulvovaginal pain, cross-sectionally and over time.

A considerable number of pregnant women experience fear of childbirth (FOC), characterized by worries and fear of the unpredictable. Despite this, the psychological processes in FOC have received notably little attention. The aim of this study was to advance the understanding by exploring the applicability of the Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) model on FOC. Anonymous data was collected in a sample of pregnant women (N = 357) with varying levels of FOC. Analyses supported the associations between FOC and all proposed psychological processes: IU, negative problem orientation, positive beliefs about worry and avoidance of inner experiences. The exploration of potential mediators of the relation between IU and FOC revealed that, of the three processes from the model, only positive beliefs about worry were a mediator, and more specifically, a partial mediator between IU and FOC. These findings add to the theoretical understanding of FOC, by indicating that the role of IU may be similar to other conditions inflicted by worry and anxiety, which may inform treatment development.

This prospective study investigated how pain catastrophizing was related to labor pain intensity and physical recovery after childbirth. Eighty-eight women giving birth for the first time completed the first questionnaire before delivery. Eighty-two of those returned the second questionnaire after delivery. Participants were classified as catastrophizers (n=38) or non-catastrophizers (n=44) based on their scores on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Comparison of the groups showed that catastrophizers anticipated and experienced more intense pain (p<.0125) and had poorer physical recovery (p<.0125), measured as the level of self-reported functioning in activities of daily living, than non-catastrophizers. These results extend the association between catastrophizing and pain, to pain and recovery in childbirth and provide support for the fear-avoidance model. It is concluded that pain catastrophizing plays a role in the experience of pain in childbirth and postpartum recovery. Further research is needed to identify appropriate interventions for catastrophizing women during the latter part of pregnancy.