Behavioral factors in the management of back pain.

Behavioral factors in the management of back pain.

Gillette R D

American Family Physician

1996

1996-03

Most persons with acute back problems recover promptly. Comprehensive evaluation of those who have not significantly improved within two weeks will often reveal significant behavioral factors that may be impeding recovery. These factors may include interpersonal, economic or occupational stress; psychologic disorders, including anxiety, depression or somatization, and counterproductive beliefs about back disorders. Effective management strategies include building a constructive doctor-patient relationship, addressing life stress issues, keeping patients physically active and prescribing psychotropic and/or analgesic medication when appropriate.

Humans; Physician-Patient Relations; Personality; Analgesics/therapeutic use; *Behavior; Back Pain/diagnosis/*psychology/*therapy; Depression/psychology; Neurotic Disorders/psychology/therapy; Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

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