Symptoms of psychological distress and treatment effects with low-back pain patients.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between psychological distress, the severity of low-back pain and the response of 54-63-year-old male in- and outpatients to low-back treatment. The correlation between the index of psychological distress and the back pain index was statistically significant, but relatively low. In the outpatient group (n = 63) those with fewer symptoms of distress and those not employed benefited significantly more from the treatment. In the inpatient group (n = 88), such clear differences were not found. The effects of treatment for low-back pain were relatively short-lived in both groups, whilst the number of inpatients reporting a large variety of positive effects after the treatment was greater. Differences between the two types of treatment are discussed.