Affiliations: [a] Physiotherapy Department, T.E.I. of Lamia, Lamia, Greece | [b] Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Zacharias Dimitriadis, TEI Lamia, Department of Physiotherapy, 3rd km O.N.R. Lamia-Athens, 35100, Lamia, Greece. E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Chronic neck pain is one of the most usual neuromusculoskeletal
pain conditions which can lead patients to chronic disability. Similarly to
other pain conditions, the changed psychological status of these patients is
believed to be associated with their pain condition and disability. However,
the association between the psychological status of patients with idiopathic
neck pain and their pain intensity and disability is minimally explored. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the association between
psychological states (anxiety, depression, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing)
of patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain and self-reported pain and
disability. METHODS: Forty five patients with idiopathic chronic neck pain (more than 6
months, at least once a week) participated. Their psychological states were
assessed by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, Pain
Catastrophizing scale and Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Self-reported
disability was recorded with the Neck Disability Index. Pain intensity was
recorded by using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Neck pain intensity was significantly correlated with anxiety
(p< 0.05). Disability was significantly correlated with anxiety, depression
and catastrophizing (p< 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that
pain-induced disability can be significantly predicted by anxiety and
catastrophizing (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that anxiety, depression and
catastrophizing of patients with chronic neck pain is associated with their
self-reported disability, whereas anxiety is also associated with their pain
intensity. Anxiety and catastrophizing may be important predicting markers
of patients' self-reported disability.
