Does the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory (MBHI) predict lumbar laminectomy outcome? A comparison with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).

Response to surgery for low-back pain is influenced by psychosocial as well as physical factors. However, no psychosocial measure has yet been found to be highly accurate in predicting surgical outcome for individual patients. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the usefulness of the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory (MBHI) in predicting outcome of laminectomy for lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis. Its use was compared with that of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The influence of several demographic, clinical, and radiographic variables was also investigated. One hundred twenty-seven patients were assessed at an average of 24 months postsurgery. Ninety-three patients had a good outcome, 20 had a fair outcome, and 14 had a poor outcome. The MBHI scales as a group were not associated with surgical outcome.