Disability,pain catastrophizing and stress coping of patients with low back pain in rehabilitation practice in Latvia

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It is known that pain has emotional and behavioral consequences that influence the development of problems and outcome of treatment. Patients’ attitudes and coping mechanisms seem to play a causal role in the chronification of low back pain (LBP) and augment a cycle of chronic pain and disability.

OBJECTIVE:

To examine pain catastrophizing, stress coping strategies and disability among patients with low back pain in rehabilitation practice in Latvia.

METHODS:

Seventy-four patients participated in the study. We used the Demographic questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, The Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale and “The Ways of Coping scale”.

RESULTS:

According to our data there is a strong interrelationship of disability and pain catastrophizing. The research data shows significantly higher scores of pain catastrophizing in patients with a more severe disability.

CONCLUSIONS:

Achieved research highlights the importance of a multifactorial approach to pain management and the enormous significance of pain catastrophizing in patients with low back pain.