Psychologic factors in low-back-pain disability.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
• Psychology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Low-back pain (LBP) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the adult male population.
• Understanding the factors contributing to LBP disability is crucial for effective management and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological characteristics of men experiencing disabling low-back pain.
• To identify potential differences in psychological profiles between disabled and non-disabled individuals with LBP.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 321 men aged 18-55 underwent biomechanical tests, physical examinations, spinal radiographs, and psychological assessments.
• Psychological evaluation included a modified Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist.
• Subjects were categorized by LBP severity (none, moderate, severe) and disability status (work loss >7 days/year).

Main Results:

• Subjects with disabling LBP showed significantly higher scores on the MMPI (hypochondriasis, hysteria) and Hopkins Checklist compared to non-disabled individuals.
• A significant difference (p = .0000) was observed in Hopkins Checklist scores across LBP severity groups.
• The disabled LBP subgroup exhibited distinct psychological patterns, comparable to patients in specialized LBP clinics.

Conclusions:

• Disabling low-back pain in the general male population is associated with specific psychological profiles, particularly elevated scores on measures of hypochondriasis and hysteria.
• Psychological factors, as indicated by MMPI and Hopkins Checklist scores, play a significant role in LBP disability.
• These findings suggest that a comprehensive approach, including psychological assessment, may be beneficial for managing disabling LBP.