Citation

Nisenzon AN, George SZ, Beneciuk JM, Wandner LD, Torres C, Robinson ME. Clin. J. Pain 2014; 30(6): 501-509.

Affiliation

*University of Florida, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Gainesville, Florida ‡University of Florida, Department of Physical Therapy, Gainesville, Florida †University of Florida, Center for Pain Research and Behavioral Health, Gainesville, Florida.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/AJP.0000000000000019

PMID

24281272

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly condition that often becomes chronic if not properly addressed. Recent research has shown that psychosocial symptoms can complicate LBP, necessitating more comprehensive screening measures. The present study investigated the role of psychosocial factors, including anger regulation, in pain and disability using a screening measure designed for LBP treated with physical therapy.One-hundred and three LBP patients initiating physical therapy completed an established screening measure to assess risk for developing chronic pain, as well as psychosocial measures assessing anger, depression, anxiety, fear-avoidance, and pain-catastrophizing before and after four weeks of treatment. Dependent variables were pain intensity, physical impairment, and patient-reported disability. Risk subgrouping based on anger and other psychosocial measures was examined using established screening methods and through employing an empirical statistical approach.Analyses revealed that risk subgroups differed according to corresponding levels of negative affect, as opposed to anger alone. General psychosocial distress also predicted disability post-treatment, but, interestingly, did not have a strong relationship to pain. Subsequent hierarchical agglomerative clustering procedures divided patients into overall High and Low Distress groups, with follow-up analyses revealing that the High Distress group had higher baseline measures of pain, disability, and impairment.Findings suggest that anger may be part of generalized negative affect rather than a unique predictor when assessing risk for pain and disability in LBP treatment. Continued research in the area of screening for psychosocial prognostic indicators in LBP may ultimately guide treatment protocols in physical therapy for more comprehensive patient care.

Language: en