Chronic pain, pain self-efficacy and suicidal ideation:The moderating role of pain self-efficacy on relation between depression and suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients

Chronic pain has some deleterious outcomes such as suicide. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between depression, pain self-efficacy, and suicidal ideation. In a descriptive study, from spring to summer 2011 in Tehran, 264 patients with chronic pain were selected via a convenience sampling method. These patients completed suicidal ideation, depression and pain self-efficacy questionnaires. The collected data were analysed, using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. While there was a significant and positive correlation between suicidal ideation and depression (r=0.56, P<0.01), there was a significant and negative correlation between suicidal ideation and pain self-efficacy (r=-0.36, P<0.01). The result of multiple regression analysis indicates that pain self-efficacy plays a moderating role in the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. There is a significant relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in chronic pain patients. Furthermore, pain self-efficacy moderates the association between depression and suicidal ideation. The results provide further support for cognitive–behavioral pain self-management programs and point to the potential benefits of interventions aimed to increase sense of pain self-efficacy among patients suffering from chronic pain.