Background

Emerging research has indicated that ‘significant others’ (spouses/relatives) may have important influences on continued work participation for individuals with chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain (CMP). In order to expand on this novel area of research, data from studies conducted in The Netherlands and the UK were assimilated.

Study design. Cross sectional.

Objectives. In literature it has been suggested that a strong relationship exists between psychosocial factors and disability in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, most studies only focus on self reported disability. This study was performed to analyze the relationship between psychological factors and performance based and self-reported disability, as measured with and Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), in patients with CLBP.

Methods. The study was performed in an outpatient rehabilitation setting. The study sample consisted of 92 patients with CLBP admitted for multidisciplinary treatment. Prior to treatment, all patients completed questionnaires to measure psychological factors (distress, depression, self efficacy, fear avoidance, pain cognitions and coping style) and self-reported disability, and performed a standardized set of tests in FCE.

Relationships among the variables were measured by means of Pearson correlation coefficients.

Results. Out of 28 relations analyzed, correlations were either non-significant or weak. Correlations between psychosocial factors and FCE were all non-significant, except for one. Results of subgroups will be presented.

Conclusion. The suggested strong relationship between psychological factors and performance based and self-reported disability measures could not be confirmed in this study. This may implicate that the relationship between psychological factors and disability may not be as unambiguous as suggested for patients with CLBP.