Date of Award

12-1990

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

C. Raymond Millimet

Second Advisor

Deana Finkler

Third Advisor

Shelton Hendricks

Abstract

This study uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to examine the possibility that there are personality types that are more likely to cope maladaptively, and experience the syndrome of chronic pain, when they are faced with an injury or pain which results in unexpected life changes.

The Chronic Pain sample in this study scored significantly higher than a Normal sample in their preference for Introversion, Sensing and Judging and were significantly more likely to be the personality types ISFJ or ISTJ.

This study also examines the relationship between MMPI depression scores and Myers-Briggs Introversion scores and the results tend to confirm earlier research which showed a correlation between the two. Chronic pain subjects who scored high on the MMPI depression scale when they were admitted to a four-week multidisciplinary Pain Management Center, scored significantly lower on depression as well as exhibiting a significant move toward Extraversion at the time of their discharge from treatment. Chronic pain subjects who were within the normal range for depression on admission did not exhibit a significant change on the Introversion/ Extraversion scale at the time of discharge. There was a significant shift toward lower MMPI depression scores at the time of discharge for the chronic pain sample irrespective of whether or not they scored as preferring Introversion or Extraversion at the time of admission to treatment. The results support the concept that there are personality types that are at higher risk to experience chronic pain syndrome when faced with an unexpected injury.

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