Psychosocial differences in high risk versus low risk acute low-back pain patients

The current study built upon previous research that predicted with 90.7% accuracy which patients presenting with acute low-back pain go on to develop chronic disability problems. Fifty-seven patients were classified as high risk (HR) or low risk (LR) according to a predictive algorithm, and were evaluated with a variety of psychosocial measures. Overall, HR patients had more Axis I pathology than LR patients, and used poorer coping styles. Logistic regression analyses identified variables that differentiated, with 80% accuracy, between the HR and LR patients. The results highlight the importance of identifying patients who are at risk for developing chronic pain following acute injury so that prophylactic intervention can be offered before chronic pain disability status becomes entrenched.