Empirical contributions

Abstract

We investigated the association between psychological factors, physical function, and moderate levels of spinal pain. Participants were 720 people selected from a general population survey with either No Pain (n = 449) or Moderate Pain (n = 271). The Moderate Pain group reported an average intensity of 4.7 (on a 0 to 10 scale), no health care visits, and only 1 day of work absence during the past year. A questionnaire containing items about physical function, work, and psychological factors including abuse, fear-avoidance beliefs, anxiety, depression, distress, and catastrophizing was employed. A series of discriminant analyses showed that distress, perceived workload, physical function, sexual abuse, and catastrophizing were associated with moderate pain. The final solution correctly classified 77% of the participants. These findings underscore that psychological and functional factors are relevant, even for moderate pain problems and before health care or insurance authorities have become involved. Because of the cross-sectional nature of the study more work is needed to understand the process by which persistent pain and disability develop.