Background: Understanding the variability of mTBI head-pain consequent to motor vehicle collision (MVC) is integral for determining proper acute and long-term intervention. Recent publication point to catastrophizing as a key cognitive factor in pain perception. However, it is also important to consider other cognitive features that may not be reflected by the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) such as the pain sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ) which addresses daily life potentially painful situations. 
Aim: To investigate the manner in which PSQ alongside PCS affects head pain intensity at the very early stage of mTBI. 
Methods: 117 mTBI post-MVC patients (n=133, 55F) were assessed for head and neck pain intensity, PCS and PSQ within the 72-h after accident. The association between these two cognitive features and pain intensity were explored using correlation analyses and Hayes mediation model. 
Results: No correlation was observed between level of PCS and head or neck pain intensity. However, the mediation model showed that the association between PCS and headache is fully mediated by PSQ (R2=.129, p=0.006), demonstrating that without the PSQ there is no direct association between catastrophizing and head pain. Age or gender were not significant factors. Conclusion: The PSQ, which represents trait-like memory and imagined facets of pain, offers insight into the cognitive representation dimension of pain experience. Using both PCS and PSQ together may add significant contribution to the construction of the individual post-accident pain evaluation and may be relevant to clinical setting.
Acknowledgment:
Supported by US Department of Defense, Health Affairs Office, No. W81XWH-15-1-0603

PAIN SENSITIVITY MEDIATES THE LINK BETWEEN CATASTROPHIZING AND MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY HEAD PAIN FOLLOWING MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION