MULTIDIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC LOW-BACK-PAIN - PREDICTING TREATMENT OUTCOMES

This study explored responses of chronic low back pain patients to tre atment for different types of patients (''dysfunctional,'' ''interpers onally distressed,'' and ''minimizer/adaptive coper''), as classified using the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI). In addition, changes in MPI scores during treatment were examined separately for each patie nt type. Finally, this study explored the relationships between change s in MPI scores and physical improvement. Between-group differences in improvement were significant, with ''dysfunctional'' patients showing the most improvement on several scales. MPI scales that best predicte d physical improvement differed according to patient type. Implication s for treatment of low back pain patients are suggested, based upon di fferential reactions to treatment and different predictors of physical improvement for each patient group.