[Pilot study on pain response patterns in chronic low back pain. The influence of pain response patterns on quality of life, pain intensity and disability].

BACKGROUND

The variables pain intensity (SI), disability (DS) and quality of life (QoL) belong to a set of primary patient-based outcomes in chronic low back pain (CLBP). The avoidance-endurance model (AEM) assumes three maladaptive and one adaptive pain response pattern. The purpose of this study was to study the level and course of the outcomes with regard to the four AEM patterns.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 52 CLBP inpatients were investigated at 2 points in time: during the first days after admission and 6 months after the acute exacerbation of pain. Differences between AEM patterns were analyzed with repeated measurement analyses of variance.

RESULTS

Groups differences were found for SI (F((3, 48))=2.82, p<0.05), general (F((3, 48))=6.78, p<0.05) and health-related QoL (F((3, 48))=5.99, p <0.05). In contrast, for the variable disability only a significant time effect was found.

CONCLUSION

The results show differences in the level and process of SI, DS and QoL between the subgroups. An AEM-based classification of subgroups is also reasonable for CLPB patients.