chronic pain

Objective: Chronic pain is one of the most important medical problems that affect many people every year. The highest prevalence of chronic pain is in adulthood. Sleep problems are one of common symptoms of chronic pain. The aim of this study was to compare sleep quality in mothers with chronic pain and healthy mothers. Methods: This study was comparative and its statistical population was included all women referred to the Pain Clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Among them, 159 persons were selected using convenience sampling method. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Von korff Pain Intensity Scale and demographic information Form were used to collect data. Data analysis was done using t-test and one way analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that sleep quality in mothers with chronic pain was significantly different from healthy mothers, and with increase in pain intensity, sleep quality decreased. Conclusions: Results of this study have implications on need pay attention to quality of sleep in mothers with chronic pain and its impact on daily routine and their duties as a parent.

Objective: Both of the defense mechanisms of ego and depression, affects the intensity of the pain in the patient with chronic pain. The present study investigates the mediating role of depression in the relationship between immature ego defenses and perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain. Method: Research was conducted on 503 patients with chronic pain who were referred to pain centers in Tehran. Participants were asked to answer Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for perceived pain intensity, Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ-40), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Results: The results indicated that depression plays a mediating role in the relationship between immature ego defenses and perceived pain intensity in patients with chronic pain. Conclusion: the relationship between immature ego defenses and the perceived pain intensity is not a simple linear one, but is mediated by depression. So, depression has an important role in Transforming of defense mechanisms to the pain.