The Role of Stress and Mood in Sickle Cell Disease Pain

Abstract

The role of stress and mood in the onset and course of sickle cell disease (SCD) pain was examined using a daily diary design. Fifteen adults with SCD completed daily diaries about their pain, stress, mood, and health care and medication use for an average of 94 days. Multilevel random effects models indicated that stress was significantly and positively related to same-day pain ratings. Stress remained a significant predictor of pain after omitting stressors related to SCD. Mood also showed significant associations with same-day pain in the expected directions. In addition, stress and mood were associated with health care and medication use during painful episodes. Finally, painful episodes were preceded by increases in stress 2 days previously, suggesting that stress may play a role in the onset of SCD pain.