Abstract
Background. Chronic low back pain (CLBP) remains one of the leading medical and social problems of modern society, leading to reduced working capacity, limited daily activity, impaired quality of life, and creating a significant economic burden on the healthcare system. Psychoemotional factors, which are key components of the biopsychosocial model, play an important role in the structure of chronic pain, as they contribute to the development, intensification and chronicity of pain. Their role may vary depending on individual psychological, population and cultural characteristics, which justifies the need for further research.
Research objective. Comprehensive assessment of the prevalence and interrelationship of psychoemotional factors in patients with chronic non-specific lower back pain, determining their impact on the course of the disease and developing effective management and rehabilitation strategies.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the rehabilitation department of the Bogomolets National Medical University Clinic. Patients aged 18-60 who underwent rehabilitation treatment for non-specific (chronic) low back pain were examined. A set of clinical, analytical, and psychometric methods was used to assess the patients’ condition. Pain intensity was determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS), anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), stress levels were determined using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), kinesiophobia was assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), quality of life was studied using the SF-36, and impairments were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Results. The study involved 223 participants, including 62% women and 38% men, with an average age of 35.9±12.4 years. Among individuals with CLBP, subclinical and clinical levels of anxiety were observed in 35.4% and 10.8%, respectively, and depression in 26.9% and 4.9%, respectively. The majority of study participants (66.4%) had moderate stress levels, while 10.3% had high levels. Moderate levels of kinesiophobia were observed in 52% of individuals, and high levels in 6.7%. Among men, clinical levels of anxiety (14.1%) and high levels of kinesiophobia (8.2%) were more common, while among women, clinical levels of depression (5.8%) were more common. Middle-aged individuals showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, kinesiophobia, stress, and functional impairment, as well as lower mental and physical quality of life scores.
Conclusions. Patients with CLBP have a high prevalence of psychoemotional disorders that negatively affect their quality of life, daily functioning, and the course of the disease. The results confirm the leading role of psychoemotional factors in the chronicity of pain and emphasise the need for psychological screening and the implementation of a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approach to rehabilitation with the integration of psychological interventions.