Psychosocial factors influencing outcome in patients with low-back pain

A psychosocial analysis of 58 patients with low-back pain was conducted. Three groups of patients with different outcomes were delineated with distinctly different psychosocial profiles. Patients who recovered uneventfully had a better income, reported more satisfaction with hospitalization or medical personnel, and had prolonged pain-free periods. Patients with the worst outcomes in terms of poor work role adjustment and severe pain complaints were more likely to be immigrants from mainland China, to be engaged in heavy manual labor, to be involved in compensation claims for work-related injuries, manifested a high degree of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and were hostile toward medical personnel. An intermediate group of patients with adequate work role adjustment but severe to moderate levels of pain were characterized by being females with varying combinations of anxiety and depressive symptoms. A preliminary clinical interview guide for screening potential problematic patients was developed.