| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Manuscript | | Title: Depressed mood in chronic low back pain: relationship with stressful life events. | | Authors: Atkinson JH, Slater MA, Grant I, Patterson TL, Garfin SR | | Year: 1988 | | Publication: Pain | | Volume: 35 Issue: Pages: 47-55 | | Abstract:This study investigated the relationship between stressful life events and depressed mood in chronic low back pain (CLBP), using both self-report and observer-rated assessments of life happenings and depression. We hypothesized that CLBP patients with depressed mood (N = 15) would report significantly more untoward life events and ongoing life difficulties compared to CLBP patients without depressed mood (N = 17) and controls (N = 19). This prediction was confirmed. Subjects also were rated as being either in a high stress or low stress condition. Patients with depressed mood were more likely to be in the high stress condition than were either non-depressed patients or volunteers. Furthermore, the increased stress reported by the distressed group appeared to be a direct consequence of back pain-related life events, rather than from other life problems. We conclude that previously reported associations between life events and CLBP are a function of the relationship between stressful life events and depressive symptoms, which are prevalent in CLBP. |
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