Articles: back-pain.
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During a semi-structured interview 82 migraine patients were asked biographical and illnessrelated questions. They completed psychological instruments on coping behavior (Stressverarbeitungsfragebogen), self-concept (Frankfurter Selbstkonzeptskalen), attributional style (IE-SV-F), illness behavior, and illness-related attributions (Tübinger Attributions-fragebogen). The theoretical background of this research is a cognitive model of coping with stress and illness. ⋯ Some of the pain behavior strategies could be identified as being focused on illness (guarding behavior, avoidance and social withdrawal, resignation and complaint); only the attempt to relax is regarded as being focused on health. Migraine patients show a preference neither for medical nor psychological causal attributions of their illness but score significantly higher on medical than psychological control attributions. The results have implications for psychological therapy.
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Comparative Study
Why do people seek medical advice for back pain: a comparison of consulters and nonconsulters.
Respondents with back pain who had answered affirmatively to the question about back pain in a population study were divided into two groups depending on whether they had consulted or had not consulted a physician due to their back pain. There were 17 nonconsulters and 37 consulters. ⋯ Based on the results, we found that the nonconsulters differed from the consulters on many issues but had nevertheless rated their constant level of pain on two different occasions as being equally severe on a graphic rating scale (GRS). The groups differed as follows: The nonconsulters rated their work to be more stressful; had less frequently a spouse suffering or having suffered from chronic pain; had fewer abnormal pain drawings; woke up less frequently during the night; used sleeping pills less frequently; participated more often in sports; and had a higher frequency of repression on the MCT compared to a group of painless subjects.
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An observation method for assessing chronic pain in back pain and rheumatoid arthritis has been developed during the last decade in the U. S. A. ⋯ Correlations between pain behavior and other measures of pain, e.g., intensity ratings, medication intake, and spinal mobility, were statistically significant but somewhat lower than expected. The results indicate that the behavioral observation method provides reliable and valid information about non-chronic back pain among Swedish females. However, some modifications in the standardized sequence of maneuvers and the definitions of pain behaviors may be necessary to improve the utility of the method in this population.
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Pain along the vertebral column is such a frequent complaint that it is easy to overlook unusual etiologies or serious complications. In addition to the common traumatic and degenerative causes of back pain, infectious, rheumatic and neoplastic conditions must also be considered. Nonmusculoskeletal disorders may sometimes be mistaken for lumbosacral strain. A systematic and sympathetic approach to the diagnosis may uncover uncommon pathologies.