Behavioral treatment of chronic low back pain: clinical outcome and individual differences in pain relief. 1981

Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. U.S.A.

The response of 111 chronic low back pain patients to a comprehensive behavioral treatment program emphasizing relaxation procedures is examined. Over the course of treatment, significant reductions were obtained on measures of subjective tension, EMG activity, and pain. Many patients also decreased their intake of analgesic/narcotic agents and reported an increase in activity level. In order to examine individual differences in pain relief, the 28 patients who had the greatest decreases in pain were compared to those who had the least decreases in pain. Patients who had the best outcome in terms of pain relief were significantly more likely to show improvements in other outcome measures. In addition, these patients rated their pain initially as more severe, had continuous pain for fewer years, and were less likely to be on disability or to have had multiple surgical procedures. These results are discussed in the light of recent data from other behavioral treatment studies with chronic low back pain patients and implications for behavioral assessment and treatment are discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007206 Individuality Those psychological characteristics which differentiate individuals from one another. Individual Differences,Difference, Individual,Differences, Individual,Individual Difference
D008297 Male Males
D008950 MMPI A personality inventory consisting of statements to be asserted or denied by the individual. The patterns of response are characteristic of certain personality attributes. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
D010043 Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care Evaluation procedures that focus on both the outcome or status (OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT) of the patient at the end of an episode of care - presence of symptoms, level of activity, and mortality; and the process (ASSESSMENT, PROCESS) - what is done for the patient diagnostically and therapeutically. Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care),Donabedian Model,Donabedian Triad,Outcome and Process Assessment,Structure Process Outcome Triad,Model, Donabedian,Triad, Donabedian
D012064 Relaxation Therapy Treatment to improve one's health condition by using techniques that can reduce PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS; or both. Relaxation Techniques,Therapeutic Relaxation,Ecotherapy,Nature Therapy,Relaxation Technics,Therapy, Relaxation,Ecotherapies,Nature Therapies,Relaxation Technic,Relaxation Technique,Relaxation, Therapeutic,Technic, Relaxation,Technique, Relaxation,Techniques, Relaxation,Therapy, Nature
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
January 2023, Pain,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
January 1988, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
January 1989, Orthopaedic review,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
April 1991, Pain,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
April 2006, The Nurse practitioner,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
December 1988, Pain,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
April 2006, The journal of pain,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
January 2017, Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
September 2010, European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society,
Francis J Keefe, and Andrew R Block, and Redford B Williams, and Richard S Surwit
April 1988, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!