STUDY OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHO-SOCIAL PROFILE AND CHRONIC LOW-BACK PAIN (LBP)

: Objectives: Considering the incidence of chronic back pain, its growing rate, importance of its etiology, and the contradictions related to Psychological status, this study was performed to determine the relationship between psycho social profile and chronic low-back pain in patients admitted to Tehran hospitals between years 1998 to 2001. Materials and methods: This research was performed over chronic low back pain patients using case-control method. Upon the initial admission, a clinical orthopedic evaluation was made and patients were divided into organic and non-organic LBP groups. Then the demographic characteristics, short form of McGill pain questionnaire and MMP-II were completed. All the data were compiled, classified and analyzed using Mann-Whitney non-parametric and Person’s correlation formulas. Results: This research was carried over 120 patients including 60 case as control group (including patients with organic low-back pain and normal group), and 60 case as study group(patients with nonorganic low-back pain). The comparison of the psychosocial profiles among the females with non organic low-back pain indicated a significant difference in Ma, Hy, and Hs scales. However, this difference among the females with non-organic low-back pain, the significant difference axisted in D and Pt scales. Finally among the two male groups (non organic low-back pain and healthy ones, the significant difference was noted in the Sc, Pt, Pa, Pd, Hy, D, K and L scales. In some scales, there is a correlation with pain intensity among men and women. Conclusion: The results show a strong relationship between psychosocial profile and chronic low-back pain. Therefore it is recommended, whenever confronting patients with nonorganic low-back pain, we should pay more attention to the psychological aspects, appropriate diagnostic tools, and unnecessary surgical treatments.