• Tamar Pincus, Peter Kent, Gert Bronfort, Patrick Loisel, Glenn Pransky, and Jan Hartvigsen.
• *Department of Psychology, Clinical, Health, and Social Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, England, United Kingdom †Research Department, Spine Centre of Southern Denmark, Institute of Regional Health Services Research, Hospital Lillebaelt, University of Southern Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark ‡Musculoskeletal Research Program, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Minnesota §Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark ¶Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ‖Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada **Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, Massachusetts ††Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA ‡‡Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and §§Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
• Spine. 2013 Nov 15; 38 (24): 2118-23.

Study DesignAn integrated review of current knowledge about the biopsychosocial model of back pain for understanding etiology, prognosis, and interventions, as presented at the plenary sessions of the XII International Forum on LBP Research in Primary Care (Denmark; October 17-19, 2012).ObjectiveTo evaluate the utility of the model in reference to rising rates of back pain-related disability, by identifying (a) the most promising avenues for future research in biological, psychological, and social approaches, (b) promising combinations of all 3 approaches, and (c) obstacles to effective implementation of biopsychosocial-based research and clinical practice.Summary Of Background DataThe biopsychosocial model of back pain has become a dominant model in the conceptualization of the etiology and prognosis of back pain, and has led to the development and testing of many interventions. Despite this back pain remains a leading source of disability worldwide.MethodsThe review is a synthesis based on the plenary sessions and discussions at the XII International Forum on LBP Research in Primary Care. The presentations included evidence-based reviews of the current state of knowledge in each of the 3 areas (biological, psychological, and social), identification of obstacles to effective implementation and missed opportunities, and identification of the most promising paths for future research.ResultsAlthough there is good evidence for the role of biological, psychological, and social factors in the etiology and prognosis of back pain, synthesis of the 3 in research and clinical practice has been suboptimal.ConclusionThe utility of the biopsychosocial framework cannot be fully assessed until we truly adopt and apply it in research and clinical practice.Level Of EvidenceN/A.

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