Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles in persons with or without low back pain. A 20-year follow-up...

Area of Science:

• Psychological assessment
• Epidemiology of pain
• Longitudinal health studies

Background:

• Limited data exists on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) changes in relation to low back pain within the general population.
• This study investigates the temporal relationship between MMPI profiles and the onset of low back pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between MMPI scores and the presence of low back pain in a general population cohort.
• To determine if changes in MMPI scores precede the development of low back pain.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study of 404 individuals from a general health survey, assessed at ages 50, 60, and 70 years.
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered at ages 50 and 60.
• Low back pain history was collected via interviews at ages 60 and 70, focusing on the Hypochondriasis-Depression-Hysteria scales.

Main Results:

• Elevated MMPI Hypochondriasis-Depression-Hysteria scales at ages 50 and 60 were associated with concurrent and subsequent low back pain.
• A "conversion-V" MMPI profile was observed in individuals with a history of low back pain.
• MMPI scores at age 50 did not predict low back pain between ages 60-70 in those without prior pain.

Conclusions:

• The study found a correlation between elevated MMPI Hypochondriasis-Depression-Hysteria scales and low back pain.
• Evidence does not support the hypothesis that elevated MMPI scores precede the onset of low back pain.