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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Psychological risk and protective factors for disability in chronic low back pain – a longitudinal analysis in primary care

Authors: Nikita Roman A. Jegan, Markus Brugger, Annika Viniol, Konstantin Strauch, Jürgen Barth, Erika Baum, Corinna Leonhardt, Annette Becker

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Utilizing psychological resources when dealing with chronic low back pain might aid the prevention of disability. The observational study at hand examined the longitudinal impact of resilience and coping resources on disability in addition to established risk factors.

Methods

Four hundred eighty four patients with chronic low back pain (>3 months) were recruited in primary care practices and followed up for one year. Resilience, coping, depression, somatization, pain and demographic variables were measured at baseline. At follow-up (participation rate 89%), data on disability was collected. We first calculated bivariate correlations of all the predictors with each other and with follow-up disability. We then used a multiple regression to evaluate the impact of all the predictors on disability together.

Results

More than half of the followed up sample showed a high degree of disability at baseline (53.7%) and had suffered for more than 10 years from pain (50.4%). Besides gender all of the predictors were bivariately associated with follow-up disability. However in the main analysis (multiple regression), disability at follow up was only predicted by baseline disability, age and somatization. There was no relationship between resilience and disability, nor between coping resources and disability.

Conclusions

Although it is known that there are cross-sectional relationships between resilience/coping resources and disability we were not able to replicate it in the multiple regression. This can have several reasons: a) the majority of patients in our sample were much more disabled and suffered for a longer time than in other studies. Therefore our results might be limited to this specific population and resilience and coping resources might still have a protective influence in acute or subacute populations. b) We used a rather broad operationalization of resilience. There is emerging evidence that focusing on more concrete sub facets like (pain) self-efficacy and acceptance might be more beneficial.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trial Register, DRKS00003123 (June 28th 2011).

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Psychological risk and protective factors for disability in chronic low back pain – a longitudinal analysis in primary care
Authors: Nikita Roman A. Jegan
Markus Brugger
Annika Viniol
Konstantin Strauch
Jürgen Barth
Erika Baum
Corinna Leonhardt
Annette Becker
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1482-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Psychological risk and protective factors for disability in chronic low back pain – a longitudinal analysis in primary care

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

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