Does calling pain "chronic" make it worse? This peer-reviewed article examines how the word itself shapes a patient's perception, acceptance, and ultimately their treatment outcomes — and why it may be time to reconsider its use in clinical practice.

When most people experience pain, they think of it as a straightforward signal — the body's alarm system announcing that something is wrong. Burn your hand, feel pain. Break a bone, feel pain. But for the millions of people living with chronic pain, this simple model breaks down completely.

Of all the psychological factors that influence chronic pain, catastrophizing is among the most studied — and among the most powerful. It is also, fortunately, one of the most treatable.