title: The relation of social support and depression in patients with chronic low back pain.
abstract: Depression is a common condition in adults with low back pain (LBP), and is associated with poorer patient outcomes. Social support is a modifiable factor that may influence depressive symptoms in people with LBP and, if so, could be a consideration in LBP management when depression is an issue. The aim of this study was to examine social support as a prognostic factor for depressive symptoms and recovery from depression in patients with LBP.
  
  
  
  Patients with LBP (n = 483), recruited from four imaging centers in Canada, completed an initial survey following imaging and a follow-up survey one year later, including the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between social support and depression.
  
  
  
  More social support (overall functional social support) at baseline was associated with recovery from depression (OR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.10, 0.55) and less depressive symptoms (β = 1.68; 95% CI = 0.36, 3.00) at one-year follow-up. In addition, associations were found between specific aspects (subscales) of social support and the two depression outcomes.
  
  
  
  Functional social support as a prognostic factor for depression and possible target of LBP management warrants further investigation. Implications for Rehabilitation Depression is a common condition in adults with low back pain (LBP), and is associated with poorer patient outcomes. This study provides evidence for social support as a prognostic factor for depressive symptoms and recovery from depression in patients with LBP problems. Management of pain conditions may be enhanced by a better understanding of modifiable risk factors for depression, such as social support.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Ashley B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: McKillop
authors.affiliation: b Department of Public Health Sciences , School of Public Health, University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: C Allyson
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Michele C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Battié
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Chronic back pain; cohort study; depression; prognostic; social support