Background: One of the most common complaints is low back pain (LBP). It adds a lot of extra effort for general practitioners. Objective: The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of various risk factors, in particular psychosocial factors on pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic LBP.
Patients and methods: The present case control study comprised 30 adult patients suffering from low back pain, persisting for more than 6 months in duration, as well as, 30 adult healthy (pain-free) individuals of matching age, sex and BMI. Results: Pain intensity by VAS was positively correlated with Total Oswestry Disability Questionnaire had moderate to severe disability (P<0.001). As for disability, it was positively correlated with age but not with disease duration (P<0.05). Beliefs and attitudes by SOPA showed that patients had statistically significant higher scoring than controls regarding disability, harm and emotions sub-items. Pain and disability were statistically significantly correlated with disability, harm, emotion and solicitude sub-items.
Conclusion: Psychological factors interactions are of utmost importance in chronic LBP patients. Hence, their assessment is crucial for any comprehensive evaluation and management of a chronic pain patient. Anxiety and depression were associated with chronic LBP patients. Negative attitudes and beliefs are increasingly accepted as having an important role in disability related to back problems.