Purpose: Pain catastrophizing often has been measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Studies of the PCS nearly consistently support its three-factor structure (i.e.; helplessness, magnification, and rumination) and satisfactory psychometric properties across different countries and languages. This study aimed to assess the generalizability of the three-factor structure of the PCS to Korean patients with chronic non-cancer pain and to investigate reliability, measurement error, and construct validity of a Korean version of the PCS (K-PCS). Methods: A total of 182 patients with chronic pain seeking treatment in a tertiary pain center located in Seoul, Korea, participated. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the adequacy of the three-factor structure of the K-PCS; 'helplessness,' 'magnification,' and 'rumination.' The internal consistency for 'helplessness,' 'magnification,' 'rumination,' and total scale of the K-PCS were Cronbach's α =.90,.71,.86, and.93, respectively; test-retest stability, ICC =.77,.73,.65, and.79, respectively; the standard estimation of measurement, 1.93, 1.34, 2.13, and 3.72, respectively; the minimum detectable change, 5.33, 3.70, 5.89, and 10.28, respectively; and the limits of agreement, -7.66 to 9.20, -5.07 to 5.01, -7.30 to 6.86, and -15.26 to 16.46, respectively. At least moderate positive correlations were observed between the K-PCS and pain intensity, depression, and pain-related anxiety, and moderate negative correlations between the K-PCS and physical and psychological functioning. Conclusion: The K-PCS has the reliability, measurement error, and construct validity support for assessing pain catastrophizing in a Korean patient sample with chronic non-cancer pain.
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