Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem disease. Its etiology is not yet fully defined, but it is known to be associated with genetic and environmental factors. This context results in a variety of symptoms that can manifest. However, pain has been one of the most frequent reasons for seeking health services, mainly due to tissue damage due to the presence of autoantibodies and release of neuropeptides. The combination of neurophysiological changes provided by the chronicity of SLE can lead to a state of catastrophizing, recognized as a maladaptive change in the perception of threats and the severity of the pain sensation. The pain generated by SLE and its catastrophizing represent a significant impact on social interactions, task execution and quality of life of those affected. Previous studies on the association between SLE and pain catastrophizing are limited in sample size, age and ethnic diversity, in addition to being geographically restricted to the USA, therefore, they may not be generalizable to adults from other countries, such as Brazil.

To identify the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in Brazilians with SLE, in addition to characterizing their sociodemographic and clinical profile.

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Amapá (n° 6.606.644). Individuals aged 18 years or older, of both sexes, diagnosed with SLE and pain for at least 3 months were included, while those with other types of lupus were excluded. All participants signed the Free and Informed Consent Form. An online questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as the Pain Catastrophizing Scale.

A total of 64 individuals were included, of which only one participant was male, with a mean age of 36.3 ± 12.5 years and a mean disease duration of 8.53 ± 7.34 years. Most participants were single, brown-skinned, and employed in paid work. Furthermore, their highest concentration was in the Northeast region (31.25%) of Brazil. Regarding the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the mean score was 31.4 ± 12.2, suggesting that most patients presented scores close to the upper limit of the instrument, which is associated with a mean pain level of 4.9 points on the Numerical Pain Scale.

The results of this study suggest that pain catastrophizing is a characteristic present in adult patients with SLE in Brazil; furthermore, this finding was presented at a medium to high level. Due to its descriptive approach, future studies should be conducted aiming at the association between the level of catastrophizing and other clinical variables of interest to better understand this relationship.

These findings suggest that tissue damage is not the only determinant in the poor progression of the disease, since catastrophizing impacts the execution of the individual's functions and their self-perception. Including this finding in treatment plans, with a focus on self-efficacy strategies and pain neuroscience education, may be crucial to empowering patients to deal with this phenomenon more effectively.