Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is a questionnaire used to assess how much a person tends to focus on, exaggerate, or feel overwhelmed by their pain. It measures three aspects: rumination (preoccupation with pain), magnification (believing pain is worse than it is), and feelings of helplessness. Higher scores suggest a person is more likely to have negative thoughts about their pain, which can influence their overall experience and management of pain. The PCS helps healthcare providers understand these thought patterns to develop more effective treatment strategies.