Chronic pain patients who believe that the worst possible outcome will actually be experienced are engaging in a maladaptive strategy known as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Catastrophization is the maladaptive strategy of assuming that the worst possible outcome for a situation will occur. This way of thinking can lead to increased anxiety and avoidance behaviors, which can exacerbate chronic pain. Overgeneralization involves drawing broad conclusions from limited evidence, selective abstraction involves focusing on negative details while ignoring positive ones, and magnification involves exaggerating the importance or severity of a situation. While these may also be unhelpful thought patterns, they are not specifically related to assuming the worst outcome.

Chronic Pain Patients Who Believe That the Worst Possible Outcome