Childhood Trauma Predicts Cancer Treatment–Related Pain in Breast Cancer Survivors

Background Childhood trauma has been linked to neuropathic pain in noncancer populations, but its relationship with cancer treatment-related neuropathic pain is unknown. Objective This secondary data analysis of a prospective, longitudinal, observational study aimed to explore the relationship of childhood trauma experience with pain severity, pain interference, and neuropathic symptom severity (NSS) 12 months after surgery in women receiving treatment for stage 0 to III breast cancer. Methods Women (N = 44) recruited from a comprehensive cancer center self-reported childhood trauma experience, pain severity, pain interference, NSS, co-occurring symptoms, and pain beliefs via questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to describe childhood trauma experience. Linear regression was used to model childhood trauma and other predictors on pain variables 12 months after surgery. Results Childhood trauma predicted pain severity and pain interference 12 months after surgery (P
Source: Cancer Nursing - Category: Nursing Tags: ARTICLES: ONLINE ONLY Source Type: research