Clinical and social predictors of application for social security disability insurance by workers' compensation claimants with low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to identify clinical and social predictors of application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in workers' compensation claimants with low back pain.


METHODS
Archival and interview data were analyzed for 1372 Missouri claimants who were, on average, nearly 42 months postinjury.


RESULTS
Two hundred sixty-five (19.3%) claimants were receiving SSDI (8.0%) or had applied for SSDI (11.3%). Logistic regression indicated that black race, older age, herniated disc diagnosis, surgery, and longer time since injury were associated with increased odds of SSDI. Higher preinjury wage, more education, and higher satisfaction with medical treatment and/or treatment by employer were associated with decreased odds of SSDI.


CONCLUSIONS
Application for SSDI among claimants with occupational low back pain is associated with social factors like race, satisfaction, and socioeconomics as well as clinical factors like diagnosis and surgery.
Chibnall
John T
JT
Department of Psychiatry, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. chibnajt@slu.edu
Tait
Raymond C
RC
Andresen
Elena M
EM
Hadler
Nortin M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017116:Low Back Pain; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D012943:Social Security; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*