[Psychologic and social factors in low-back pain]

Psychological factors seem to play a major role in low-back pain, but unfortunately the definition of the so-called "functional" low-back pain is mainly negative, and the characteristics of its symptoms should be more precise. Disorders of personality and/or psychiatric disorders may be present, but they may be independent of the cause and presentation of the pain. One must therefore provide more details on the clinical picture for which the possible psychological disorders (depression, anxiety, pathomimicry, etc.) are held responsible. The alleged social factors seem to be due to an uncertain and not yet elucidated mechanism. Thus, a better methodological approach is needed in future, resting on validated diagnostic criteria of spinal and psychiatric diseases, in order to determine the role played by each organic, psychiatric and social element implicated in this complex pathology.