Abstract: Fear Avoidance Beliefs (FAB) and pain anxiety constitute risk
factors in the process of chronicity in low back pain. Presently, reliable and
valid measures to assess pain anxiety in elderly individuals with low back pain
do not exist. The Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale (PASS), both in its extended and
abbreviated version, demonstrates good psychometric properties. Factor analyses
reveal four dimensions that represent cognitive, emotional, physiological, and
behavioural levels, respectively. So far, the scale has not been examined,
however, in an elderly population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric
properties of a German translation of the 20-items short form of this scale
(PASS-D 20). A total of 79 patients older than 65 years with low back pain
participated in a telephone survey. In contrast to the original English version, a 4-factor structure
could not be identified. Moreover, some items did not prove to be relevant for
the target group and were not used as pain descriptors. Consequently, the use
of the present 20 item version cannot be recommended for the assessment of FABs
and pain anxiety in an elderly population. Some items, however, seem to hold
the potential to demonstrate better properties when incorporated into a new
scale with additional items that better represent the special needs of the
elderly. This scale needs to be developed yet.
Keywords: Fear avoidance beliefs, assessment, elderly, PASS
