The behavioural inhibition system, behavioural activation system and experiential avoidance as explanatory variables of comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress symptoms

Figures & data

Figure 1. Selection process of the participants groups.

Figure 2. Graphic representation of the study hypotheses.

Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups of participants.

	TE		TE with PTSS
Variables	N	%	N	%	x^2
Marital status					3.49
Single	18	9.28	19	9.79
Married	142	73.20	128	65.98
Divorced	25	12.88	38	19.59
Widowed	9	4.64	9	4.64
Highest level of education^+					6.54
Without education	30	15.46	33	17.01
Primary education	66	34.02	86	44.33
Secondary education	69	35.57	58	29.90
University education	27	13.92	16	8.25
Pain diagnostic					42.07*
Generalized pain	60	30.93	123	63.40
Spinal pain	86	44.33	51	26.29
Limbs pain	47	24.23	20	10.31
Others	1	0.51	0	0
Trauma events
Natural disasters	31	15.98	34	17.52	0.15
Accidents	62	31.96	74	38.14	1.54
Physical assault	55	28.35	109	56.18	30.37*
Witnessed physical assault	42	21.65	47	24.23	0.33
Assault with weapon	71	36.60	91	46.91	4.07**
Witnessed assault with weapon	23	11.86	25	12.89	0.08
Sexual assault	18	9.28	32	16.49	4.42**
Witnessed sexual assault	19	9.80	39	20.10	7.99**
Other uncomfortable sexual experienced	32	16.49	52	26.80	5.95**
Combat/war/captivity	13	6.70	11	5.67	0.19
Life-threatening illness or injure	66	34.02	82	42.27	2.66
Life-threatening illness or injure of close person	149	76.80	171	88.14	8.09**
Sudden violence/ accidental death	163	84.02	162	83.50	.07

Note: TE = trauma-exposed; TE with PTSS = trauma-exposed with posttraumatic stress symptoms.

⁺Missing values in highest level of education (n = 2 in TE, n = 1 in TE with PTSS).

*p < .01; ** = p < .05

Table 2. Descriptive statistical for both groups of participants.

	TE		TE with PTSS
Variables (range)	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
BIS (10–20)	11.84	2.40	14.74	3.07
BAS (10–20)	10.93	1.50	11.15	1.78
EA (7–49)	19.80	8.91	35.03	8.09
Perceived pain (0–10)	6.06	1.43	6.90	1.40
Functioning (0–120)	52.11	13.26	42.65	14.70
Impairment (0–30)	6.77	3.22	10.47	4.40

Note: TE = trauma-exposed; TE with PSS = trauma-exposed with posttraumatic stress symptoms; BIS = behavioural inhibition system; BAS = behavioural approach system; EA = experiential avoidance.

Table 3. Differences between groups (TE and TE with PTSS) in dependent variables.

Variable	F	df	p	Power	η^2p
BIS	95.36	1/388	.000	1.00	.20
BAS	2.15	1/388	.140	.31	.01
EA	261.23	1/388	.000	1.00	.40
Perceived pain	17.02	1/388	.000	.99	.04
Functioning	50.52	1/388	.000	1.00	.15
Impairment	76.63	1/388	.000	1.00	.17

Note: TE = trauma-exposed; TE with PSS = trauma-exposed with posttraumatic stress symptoms; BIS = behavioural inhibition system; BAS = behavioural approach system; EA = experiential avoidance.

Figure 3. Structure standardized coefficients (in the arrows) and R² values (bold) for the final model. Observed variables are represented by square and latent variables by circles. SPSRQ-20 = Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire; AAQ-II = Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II; PCL-C = Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version; IDF-R = Impairment and Functioning Inventory Revised.