Cognitive Patterns and Psychological Distress as Predictors of Disability Related to Chronic Neck and Low Back Pain:...

The purpose of this study was to assess the association of disability with cognitive patterns (pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia) and psychological distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) in individuals with chronic neck (CNP) and low back pain (CLBP).

This cross-sectional study included 150 individuals with CNP (n = 75) and CLBP (n = 75) who answered a personal assessment form, the Neck Disability Index, the Oswestry Disability Index, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the visual analog scale (pain intensity). A multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess whether the independent variables were predictors of disability (P < .05).

In individuals with CNP, pain catastrophizing (β = 0.5), kinesiophobia (β = 0.2), and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.3) served as predictors of disability (R² = 0.79; Adjusted R² = 0.78; F (3.71) = 90.6; P < .001). In individuals with CLBP, pain catastrophizing (β = 0.4) and pain intensity (β = 0.4) were predictors of disability (R² = 0.51; Adjusted R² = 0.50; F (2.72) = 34.4; P < .001).

Disability related to CNP and CLBP had different predictors, except for pain catastrophizing, which was associated with both. These findings suggest that cognitive patterns (ie, pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia) and psychological distress (ie, anxiety symptoms) should be considered during CNP and CLBP rehabilitation and further investigated by health professionals.