Type of pain locus of control related to the level of dependence and depression in the elderly

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The locus of control (LC) of pain is the perception of the individual about pain control. The investigation of the relationship between LC, dependence and depression in elderly patients is of great importance given the high prevalence of chronic diseases among this population. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between LC of pain in elderly patients and the level of dependence and prevalence of depression. METHODS: Ninety-one elderly individuals, aged over 60 years, were selected from the Association of Retirees, Pensioners, and Elderly of Lavras and Region (AAPIL) and all participants underwent a comprehensive anamnesis to effectively describe and characterize the sample. The Health Locus of Control Multidimensional Scale was used to assess perception of pain, the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale was used to determine the prevalence of depression, and Katz Index to evaluate functional capacity. Chi-square test was used to analyze nominal variables with a 95% level of significance. RESULTS: The majority of the elderly participants (83.5%) reported experiencing chronic pain, while 85.7% had no suspected depression. Internal control was the most prevalent type of LC among participants, and there was no significant relationship between LC of pain and depression. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the type of LC of pain reported by the elderly participants in this study does not significantly interfere with the likelihood of depression. These results contribute to the understanding of the relationship between LC, dependence, and depression among senior patients and may inform interventions to improve their quality of life.

Keywords

• depression
• elderly
• pain