Psychiatric disorders and risk of transition to chronicity in men with first onset low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether pre-existing psychiatric diagnoses increase the likelihood of transitioning from sub-acute to chronic back pain.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Men (N = 140) experiencing a first onset of low back pain (LBP) were examined for lifetime psychiatric disorders approximately 8 weeks post pain-onset using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS-III-R), then re-evaluated at 6 months after pain onset to determine who did or did not progress to pain chronicity.


METHODS
Transition to chronic pain and disability was based on 6-month self-report measures of pain intensity and perceived disability.


RESULTS
Men with a pre-pain lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder had 5 times greater risk of transitioning to chronic LBP (odds ratio [OR] = 4.99; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-16.76). Increased risk was also associated with a pre-pain lifetime diagnosis of generalized anxiety (OR = 2.45; 95% CI 1.06-5.68), post-traumatic stress (OR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.11-9.44), and with current nicotine dependence (OR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.15-5.40). There were no statistically significant effects for abuse or dependence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances.


CONCLUSIONS
Lifetime history of major depression or a major anxiety disorder may represent potential psychosocial "yellow flags" for the transition to chronicity in men with first-onset LBP. Screening for lifetime depressive or anxiety disorders may identify individuals at higher risk, who may benefit from referral for more intensive rehabilitation.
Shaw
William S
WS
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.
Means-Christensen
Adrienne J
AJ
Slater
Mark A
MA
Webster
John S
JS
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
Grant
Igor
I
Garfin
Steven R
SR
Wahlgren
Dennis R
DR
Patel
Shetal
S
Atkinson
J Hampton
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult