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The Role of Pain-Related Anxiety Reduction in the Outcome of Multidisciplinary Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain: Preliminary Results

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Abstract

The success of multidisciplinary treatments for chronic pain in helping patients suffer less and function better is well documented. However, this success has occurred despite a lack of understanding of the process of change that produces positive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of pain-related anxiety reduction in the outcome of treatment for chronic pain. Seventy-nine persons with chronic pain completed measures of pain, pain-related interference with activity, affective distress, general daily activity, and pain-related anxiety at admission and immediately following a 3-week multidisciplinary treatment program focusing on functional restoration. Patients significantly improved on all outcome measures. Reductions in pain-related anxiety predicted improved functioning on each measure. Additional analyses showed that change in pain-related anxiety remained a significant predictor of outcome independent of change in depression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

    Lance M. McCracken

  2. Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

    Richard T. Gross

Authors
  1. Lance M. McCracken
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  2. Richard T. Gross
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Correspondence to Lance M. McCracken.

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McCracken, L.M., Gross, R.T. The Role of Pain-Related Anxiety Reduction in the Outcome of Multidisciplinary Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain: Preliminary Results. J Occup Rehabil 8, 179–189 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021374322673

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021374322673

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