Scandinavian journal of public health
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Scand J Public Health · May 2013
Biopsychosocial function analyses changes the assessment of the ability to work in patients on long-term sick-leave due to chronic musculoskeletal pain: the role of undiagnosed mental health comorbidity.
To study the prevalence of somatic and mental health comorbidity and the use of opioid medication among patients on long-term sick-leave due to chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP); to compare an orthopaedic-based assessment of ability to work with a team assessment; to investigate the relationship between intensity of pain and psychosocial characteristics in this group. ⋯ An evaluation based on biopsychosocial function is valuable in reaching an accurate assessment of the patient's diagnosis, and ability to work in CMP. Ability to work and degree of sick-leave in patients on long-term sick-leave is determined to a large extent by undiagnosed mental health comorbidities, and not solely somatic complaints.