title: Do illness perceptions of people with chronic low back pain differ from people without chronic low back pain?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine why some people develop chronic low back pain, and whether illness perceptions are an important risk factor in the transition from acute to chronic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and two members of the general Dutch population, with and without chronic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographics and the translated version of the illness perception questionnaire-revised, adapted for back pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the sample, 115 (29%) individuals had chronic low back pain (>6 months) and 287 (71%) did not have chronic low back pain. Many of the participants with chronic low back pain believed that one 'wrong' movement can potentially lead to more severe problems, and that X-rays or computer tomography scans can determine the cause of the pain. Many of the participants with chronic low back pain did not perceive a relationship between psychosocial factors and low back pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Illness perceptions differed between individuals with and without chronic low back pain. In the subacute phase, healthcare professionals could assess illness perceptions and, if necessary, incorporate them into the management of patients with low back pain.
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. c.p.vanwilgen@online.nl
authors.forename: C Paul
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van Wilgen
authors.forename: Miriam W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: van Ittersum
authors.forename: Ad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kaptein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires