MAXIMAL EFFORT DURING FUNCTIONAL-CAPACITY EVALUATIONS - AN EXAMINATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL-FACTORS

Background and Purpose: Patients with low back pain are often administ ered a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) to determine levels of phy sical functioning at the conclusion of their rehabilitation program. T he purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psych ological factors tie, self-reported disability, anxiety, depression, s elf-efficacy) and maximal effort exerted during the FCE. Subjects and Methods: Sixty-four patients with low back pain were administered the Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the FCE Self-Efficacy Scales befor e administration of the FCE. Results: Compared with patients who gave maximal effort during the FCE, patients who did not exert maximal effo rt reported significantly more anxiety and self-reported disability, a nd reported lower expectations for both their FCE performance and for returning to work. There was also a trend for these patients to report more depressive symptomatology. Conclusion and Discussion: Results pr ovide evidence for the relationship between self-reported disability, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and patients' performance on the F CE. Suggestions for addressing the psychological factors in a comprehe nsive pain treatment program are provided. (C) 1996 by the American Co ngress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation .