Psychiatry and Psychology

Catastrophization

Cognitive and emotional processes encompassing magnification of pain-related stimuli, feelings of helplessness, and a generally pessimistic orientation.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Cognitive and emotional processes encompassing magnification of pain-related stimuli, feelings of helplessness, and a generally pessimistic orientation.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

23 entry terms
  • Catastrophic Thinking
  • Catastrophizing
  • Catastrophic Thinkings
  • Thinking, Catastrophic
  • Pain Catastrophizing
  • Pain-Related Catastrophic Thinking
  • Pain-Related Cognitive Rumination
  • Pain-Related Rumination
  • Scattershot Catastrophization
  • Catastrophic Thinking, Pain-Related
  • Catastrophization, Scattershot
  • Catastrophizing, Pain
  • Cognitive Rumination, Pain-Related
  • Pain Catastrophizings
  • Pain Related Catastrophic Thinking
  • Pain Related Cognitive Rumination
  • Pain Related Rumination
  • Pain-Related Catastrophic Thinkings
  • Pain-Related Cognitive Ruminations
  • Pain-Related Ruminations
  • Rumination, Pain-Related
  • Rumination, Pain-Related Cognitive
  • Scattershot Catastrophizations

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

31 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2011

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Anxiety (1984-2010)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Catastrophization. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D058443. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D058443
  2. Catastrophization. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_catastrophizing
  3. Catastrophization. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7124833