Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 1979
Chronic pain states: their relationship to impairment and disability.
Chronic pain patients (101) were assigned ratings of impairment and disability and were assessed for organic pathology and pain behavior through comprehensive testing procedures. As predicted, higher ratings of impairment and disability were significantly associated with higher levels of both physical pathology and pain behaviors. ⋯ Many patients showed higher disability than impairment ratings, which suggests the possibility of gainful employment in less demanding jobs. However, the current disability system rewards sickness and dysfunction and discourages patients from resuming work.