The contribution of health and psychological factors in patients with chronic neck pain and disability: A cross-sectional study

© 2018, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved. Introduction: One approach to reduce the burden of neck pain is the management of the prognostic factors that are associated with greater disability. Studies which quantify these predictors can support interventions that attempt to modify these trajectories. Aim: The aim of the present study to determine the contribution of psychological and health factors that are commonly associated with neck pain and disability levels. Materials and Methods: Patients between 18-65 years old were recruited to participate in the present study if they had neck pain for more than three months, with a minimum score 5/50 on the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Sixty patients were included in the study and they completed four patient reported outcomes including the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), NDI, Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariable regression analysis were performed to determine the contribution levels of anxiety, depression and health status on pain and disability levels. Results: There were 13 males and 47 females in the study with a mean age of 39.45±12.67 years. Pain levels were explained by physical and mental components of SF-12 and HADS subscales which accounted for 40% of the variance. SF-12 and the HADS subscales explained 50% of the variance in patients disability levels. Conclusion: The self-reported anxiety of HADS and the physical health status of SF-12 were the two significant contributors of pain and disability levels for patients with chronic neck pain. Future interventions should aim to modify these factors