Journal of Pain Research (Jun 2022)
Is There a Difference in Fear-Avoidance, Beliefs, Anxiety and Depression Between Post-Surgery and Non-Surgical Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Patients?
Abstract
Thiago Alves Rodrigues, Eduardo José Silva Gomes de Oliveira, Beatriz Morais Costa, Rayanne Luiza Tajra Mualem Araújo, João Batista Santos Garcia Chronic Pain Clinic, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão (HU-UFMA), São Luís, Maranhão, BrazilCorrespondence: Thiago Alves Rodrigues, Chronic Pain Clinic, University Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão (HU-UFMA), Rua do Farol, n. 05. Ed Porto Real, Ap 1101, Ponta do Farol, São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil, CEP 65077-450, Email [email protected]: Patients with post-surgery persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) or non-surgical PSPS might be affected by sustained fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB), anxiety and depression. In this scenario, this study aimed to describe those aspects in patients with post-surgery PSPS and non-surgical PSPS.Methods: This study included patients with PSPS, and non-surgical PSPS, over 18 years, with quarterly evaluations at the Chronic Pain Clinic. After evaluation, demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained. The Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Douleur neuropathique 4 questions, Visual Analog Pain Scale, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire–Brazilian Version (FABQ-Brazil) were used to evaluate psychological aspects.Results: Forty-six patients were included, 23 patients with post-surgery PSPS and 23 with non-surgical PSPS. Both groups had high scores in the physical and work domains of the FABQ, high rates of absenteeism and most patients in these groups had moderate-to-severe neuropathic pain and some degree of anxiety and/or depression. The groups showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) when comparing all questionnaires.Discussion: This is one of the first studies to evaluate FAB and other associated psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, in patients with post-surgery PSPS in a follow-up several years after surgery and compare with patients diagnosed with non-surgical PSPS. In this study, most patients in both groups had high scores in the FABQ domains, not having statistically relevant difference between groups.Conclusion: Even though there was no statistically relevant difference between the PSPS patient with or without surgical history in terms of the assessed outcome measures, the described scores for fear-avoidance beliefs, pain, anxiety and depression were high, showing an interference in the daily life activities of those patients.Keywords: fear, depression, anxiety, spine surgery, back pain
