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Rate ePoster

Pain and Spine Medicine

Dysfunctional Coping and Chronic Pain – Examining the Effects of Catastrophizing in Pain Response to Battlefield Acupuncture

Friday, October 24, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM MT
Location: Original Research Theater

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Kristen Clark, MD (she/her/hers)

    Resident Physician
    UCLA David Geffen SOM/ UCLA Medical Center/VA Greater Los Angeles Health
    Los Angeles, California

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Sneh Patel, MD

    Resident Physician
    UCLA David Geffen SOM/ UCLA Medical Center/VA Greater Los Angeles Health
    Los Angeles, California

  • Catherine Y. Cho, DO (she/her/hers)

    Resident Physician
    UCLA David Geffen SOM/ UCLA Medical Center/VA Greater Los Angeles Health
    Los Angeles, California

  • RO

    Rebecca Ovsiowitz, MD

    Director of Inpatient Pain West Los Angeles VAMC
    UCLA
    Malibu, California

Disclosure(s):
Kristen Clark, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Sneh Patel, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Catherine Cho, DO: No financial relationships to disclose
Rebecca Ovsiowitz, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Background and/or Objectives: This study examines the effects of catastrophizing on pain response in veterans undergoing Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) for chronic pain.

Design: Retrospective chart review and analysis of patient data.

Setting : Outpatient Chronic Pain clinics.

Participants : Patients who received BFA in the outpatient PM&R pain setting from 05/01/2017 to 10/25/2023. Exclusions: patients who did not complete the PHQ/GAD/HADS questionnaire, could not tolerate the BFA protocol, were under 18, pregnant, had ear deformities or wounds, or signs of infection.

Interventions: BFA procedure.

Main Outcome Measures: Relationships between baseline pain and pain response to BFA with severity of catastrophizing, measured by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).

Results: 52 veterans underwent BFA with PCS screening. Average age was 61.05±11.65 years; most were male (75.7%) and non-Hispanic (83.8%). Mean PCS score was 15.85±6.09; mean baseline pain level was 6.95±1.99. Post-procedure, pain improved mildly for most (62.2%), with an average decrease of 2.05±2.45 points. Higher PCS scores were associated with increasing age (β=0.44, p=0.01), female sex (β=7.71, p< 0.005), PTSD (β=7.03, p< 0.005), anti-anxiety medication use (β=23.22, p< 0.005), higher baseline pain (β=1.08, p=0.03), and lower pain difference post-BFA (β=-1.56, p< 0.005).

Conclusions: Catastrophizing is linked to higher baseline pain and reduced pain response to BFA. Associations with PTSD, anxiety, age, and sex suggest these factors should be considered when screening patients for BFA candidacy. Addressing mental health may improve pain outcomes.