Depression impacts the course of recovery in patients with acute low-back pain.
Little is known about the course of recovery of acute low back pain (LBP) patients as a function of depression. In a prospective study, 286 acute LBP patients were assessed at baseline and followed up over 6 months. Recovery was defined as improvement in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Repeated-measures analysis of covariance was employed with ODI as repeated factor, age, sex, and body mass index as covariates, depression and all other potential prognostic factors as between-subject factors. Of study participants, 18% were classified as depressive (>33 points on the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale). Of 286 participants, 135 were lost to follow-up. In the longitudinal sample of 151 patients the course of recovery was slower in depressive patients. Depression was associated with LBP especially after 6 weeks and should therefore be included in screening instruments for acute LBP patients to identify those at risk of delayed recovery at an early stage.
Western Australian Institute for Medical Research-WAIMR, University ofWestern Australia, B Block, QEII Medical Center, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. markus.melloh@uwa.edu.au
Markus
M
Melloh
Achim
A
Elfering
Anja
A
Käser
Cornelia Rolli
CR
Salathé
Thomas
T
Barz
Emin
E
Aghayev
Christoph
C
Röder
Jean-Claude
JC
Theis
D059787:Acute Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome