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. 2008 Jan-Feb;13(1):19-24.
doi: 10.1155/2008/845674.

Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Francophone Adolescents: a preliminary validation

Isabelle Tremblay  1 , Yves Beaulieu, Annie Bernier, Geert Crombez, Simon Laliberté, Pascal Thibault, Ana M Velly, Michael J L Sullivan
Affiliations

Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Francophone Adolescents: a preliminary validation

Isabelle Tremblay et al. Pain Res Manag. 2008 Jan-Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: In adults, it is well known that high levels of pain catastrophizing are related to increased pain and disability as well as to heightened anxiety and depression. However, due to the lack of a measure of pain catastrophizing adapted for francophone adolescents, little is known about the role of catastrophizing in this population.

Objectives: To adapt the French version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and to examine the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the PCS for Francophone Adolescents (PCS-Ado).

Methods: The French version of the PCS was modified by a group of experts. The format of the questions was modified to be appropriate for adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years. To assess the psychometric properties of the PCS-Ado, 345 adolescents completed the PCS-Ado and questionnaires measuring depression, anxiety and intensity of pain. Twelve to 16 weeks later, participants completed the questionnaires again to examine the test-retest reliability of the PCS-Ado.

Results: Results revealed a three-factor solution similar to the original PCS. In addition, results revealed that PCS-Ado had good internal consistency (PCS-Ado total: 0.85; rumination: 0.72; magnification: 0.66; helplessness: 0.74), and high test-retest reliability (r=0.73). Finally, significant correlations among catastrophizing, depression, anxiety and pain intensity support the construct validity of the PCS-Ado.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the PCS-Ado is valid and reliable with francophone adolescents. Further research is required to assess the validity of the PCS-Ado in clinical settings.

CONTEXTE :: C’est bien connu, un degré élevé de dramatisation de la douleur chez les adultes est lié à une augmentation de la douleur et de l’incapacité ainsi qu’à une augmentation de l’anxiété et de la dépression. Cependant, comme il n’existe pas de mesure suffisante de la dramatisation de la douleur, adaptée aux adolescents francophones, on en sait peu sur le rôle du phénomène dans ce segment particulier de la population.

BUTS :: L’étude avait pour buts d’adapter la version française de l’échelle Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) et d’examiner les propriétés psychométriques et la structure factorielle de la PCS chez des adolescents francophones (PCS-Ado).

MÉTHODE :: La version française de la Pain Catastrophizing Scale a été modifiée par un groupe de spécialistes. Les questions ont été reformulées de manière à correspondre au vocabulaire des adolescents âgés de 12 à 18 ans. Afin d’évaluer les propriétés psychométriques de la PCS-Ado, nous avons demandé à 345 adolescents de remplir l’échelle PCS-Ado et les questionnaires visant à mesurer la dépression, l’anxiété et l’intensité de la douleur. Les participants ont répondu de nouveau aux questionnaires, de 12 à 16 semaines plus tard, afin que soit vérifiée la fiabilité test-retest de la PCS-Ado.

RÉSULTATS :: Les résultats ont révélé une solution trifactorielle comparable à celle de la version originale de la PCS. De plus, ils ont montré que la PCS-Ado avait une bonne cohérence interne (PCS-Ado : total = 0,85; rumination = 0,72; exagération = 0,66; sentiment d’impuissance = 0,74) et une bonne fiabilité test-retest (r=0,73). Enfin, la forte corrélation entre la dramatisation et la dépression, l’anxiété et l’intensité de la douleur confirme la validité du construct de la PCS-Ado.

CONCLUSIONS :: Les résultats semblent indiquer que la PCS-Ado est valide et fiable chez les adolescents francophones. Il reste maintenant à en évaluer la validité en pratique clinique.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Factorial structure of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Francophone Adolescents
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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