The pain beliefs and perceptions inventory: further evidence for a 4-factor structure

Abstract

This study employed the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBPAI) (Williams and Thorn 1989) with a German sample (n = 193) of pain patients. The original version has 3 subscales: (1) self-blame (S-B), (2) perception of pain as mysterious (MYST), and (3) beliefs about the temporal stability of pain (TIME). Item statistics, factor structure, and discriminant validity are reported. Factor analysis favored a 4-factor structure and replicated a finding by Strong et al. (1992). The TIME scale can be subdivided into 2 subscales: beliefs that pain is a constant and enduring experience ("Constancy"), and beliefs about the long-term chronicity of pain ("Acceptance"). Constancy showed higher correlations with self-reported psychological symptomatology (anxiety, general physical troubles, pain intensity) than did Acceptance, MYST, and S-B.