Validity and Reliability of the Greek Pain Catastrophizing Scale

Migraine is a common and highly burdensome neurological disorder that significantly affects patients' quality of life, functioning, and psychosocial well-being \[1\]. In people with migraine, the overall burden of the disease is determined not only by pain intensity and frequency but also by cognitive and emotional factors related to the perception and management of pain \[1,2\]. Of particular interest is pain catastrophizing, a maladaptive cognitive state in which the individual perceives pain as excessively threatening, persistently focuses on it, and experiences feelings of helplessness or powerlessness in response to it \[3\]. The literature has shown that high levels of pain catastrophizing in patients with migraine are associated with greater pain intensity, increased migraine-related disability, and higher levels of anxiety and depression \[2-4\]. In addition, pain catastrophizing has been reported to play an important role in migraine chronicity and in the overall deterioration of patients' quality of life \[5,6\]. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing pain catastrophizing, and validity and reliability studies have been conducted in many different languages \[7-9\]. However, available data on the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the PCS in patients with migraine remain limited. A culturally adapted, valid, and reliable Greek version of the scale is particularly important because it may contribute substantially to improving clinical assessment, strengthening research activity, and implementing a comprehensive approach to migraine management. Therefore, the aim of the present study is the cultural adaptation of the Greek version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in patients with migraine and the evaluation of its psychometric properties. Aim of the study - Hypotheses to be tested The aim of the present study is to examine the validity and reliability of the Greek version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in Greek patients with migraine. Hypotheses: * H0: The Pain Catastrophizing Scale is not valid and reliable for patients with migraine in the Greek population. * H1: The Pain Catastrophizing Scale is valid and reliable for patients with migraine in the Greek population.