I spend a lot of time telling members NOT to panic and stress out about CPPS, in other words not to catastrophize (or catastrophise).
catastrophize [kuh-tas-truh-fahyz]
verb (used without object), verb (used with object), ca·tas·tro·phized, ca·tas·tro·phiz·ing.
to view or talk about (an event or situation) as worse than it actually is, or as if it were a catastrophe
Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2012 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print] The chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and pain catastrophizing: A vicious combination.
Hedelin H.
Departments of Research and Development and Urology , Kärnsjukhuset, Skövde , Sweden.
Abstract Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and importance of pain catastrophizing among men diagnosed with chronic abacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in a routine clinical setting. Material and methods. 61 men, mean age 46 ± 11 years, with a mean CP/CPPS history of 11 ± 11 years, completed the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) to evaluate pain catastrophizing, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). They were also scored according to the UPOINT system. Results. The patients' mean scores were: IEEF-5 17.6 ± 7.3, NIH-CPSI pain subscale 11.1 ± 4.4, quality of life question 2.7 ± 1.6, quality of life impact subscale 6.9 ± 2.7 and CSQ catastrophizing score 15.3 ± 9.1. Patients with a high tendency for catastrophizing (CSQ score ≥20) (28%) had higher UPOINT and pain scores, worse quality of life and quality of life impact, but did not stand out regarding voiding dysfunction and ejaculatory pain. Conclusions. Two distinctly different cohorts could be identified: a smaller cohort with a high degree of catastrophizing, severe pain and poor quality of life, and a larger one with a low degree of catastrophizing, less severe pain and moderately reduced quality of life. It is important in clinical practice to distinguish between the two groups since they require different therapeutic approaches.
