• Markus Melloh, Achim Elfering, Anja Käser, Cornelia Rolli Salathé, Thomas Barz, Emin Aghayev, Christoph Röder, and Jean-Claude Theis.
• Western Australian Institute for Medical Research-WAIMR, University ofWestern Australia, B Block, QEII Medical Center, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. markus.melloh@uwa.edu.au
• Behav Med. 2013 Jan 1; 39 (3): 80-9.

AbstractLittle is known about the course of recovery of acute low back pain (LBP) patients as a function of depression. In a prospective study, 286 acute LBP patients were assessed at baseline and followed up over 6 months. Recovery was defined as improvement in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Repeated-measures analysis of covariance was employed with ODI as repeated factor, age, sex, and body mass index as covariates, depression and all other potential prognostic factors as between-subject factors. Of study participants, 18% were classified as depressive (>33 points on the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale). Of 286 participants, 135 were lost to follow-up. In the longitudinal sample of 151 patients the course of recovery was slower in depressive patients. Depression was associated with LBP especially after 6 weeks and should therefore be included in screening instruments for acute LBP patients to identify those at risk of delayed recovery at an early stage.

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