Psychological methods in the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain

Abstract

Among the adult population, every two persons have experienced at least an episode of back pain during their lifetime. Nonspecific (musculoskeletal) low back pain (LBP) becomes chronic in 3–10% of people. These cases require combined interdisciplinary treatment, including optimal pharmacotherapy, rational physical activity, therapeutic exercises, psychological methods, an educational program (back pain school for patients); some cases need manual therapy, massage. Psychological methods assist patients to cope with pain catastrophizing, to increase daily activity, and to reduce the likelihood of disease recurrence. The results of clinical trials and systematic reviews demonstrate that cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy (mindfulness-based stress reduction) are effective in treating chronic LBP. The paper describes a clinical case: an example of effective treatment of a female patient with chronic nonspecific LBP, by applying an integral interdisciplinary approach.

Keywords

• back pain
• chronic nonspecific low back pain
• low back pain
• treatment
• psychological methods
• psychotherapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• mindfulness
• mindfulness therapy
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• meloxicam
• movalis®
• pharmacotherapy
• interdisciplinary treatment
• clinical case