INTRODUCTION

Adaptation to chronic non-oncologic pain is associated with the development of psychopathology and personality disorders, creating severity, chronicity, poorer treatment response, and exacerbations in patients with neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the psychopathological and personality profiles of patients with chronic nociceptive and neuropathic pain and their association with pain progression and intensity.

METHOD

A cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study was conducted in the Pain Treatment Unit of Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor, with systematic randomized recruitment for 25 months; 115 patients were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-D, HAM-A) and the Millon Clinical MultiaxialInventory-III (MCMI-III).

RESULTS

The neuropathic group achieved significantly higher scores for pain intensity and depressive and anxiety symptoms. With greater magnitude and frequency, the neuropathic group related pain intensity and progression with depressive/anxiety symptoms, clinical syndromes, and personality patterns. Both groups revealed tendencies towards a compulsive personality pattern, followed by narcissistic, histrionic, and schizoid patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

When treating chronic pain, the presence of various psychopathological indicators requires an individualized strategy.