Psychometric Factors in Quality of Life and Pain Perception in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain

Author(s): Sergio Eduardo Fischer Bulhoes, Gloria Maria Moraes Vianna da Rosa, Andrea Serra Granico, Flavia Oliveira Toledo

Introduction: Nonspecific neck pain is the most common cause of neck symptoms and usually presents psychosocial aspects that make treatment difficult.

Objective: Analyze the association of psychometric factors in quality of life and pain perception in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain.

Methodology: 17 individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain submitted to an evaluation through validated questionnaires for pain, quality of life, kinesiophobia, catastrophism, anxiety and depression.

Results: Correlations with quality of life were observed between pain intensity in the domains of pain (r=-0.73; p= 0.001), general health status (r=-0.74 ; p=0.001) and limitation by social aspects (r=-0.60; p= 0.01); interference and functional capacity (r=-0.50 ; p= 0.04), physical limitations (r=-0.50; p=0.008), pain (r=-0.82; p= 0.001), condition general health (r=-0.65; p= 0.005) and limitation by social aspects (r=-0.57; p= 0.02); this correlation was also seen with catastrophism and limitation by social aspects (r=-0.65; p= 0.004); anxiety with functional capacity (r=-0.60; p=0.01), with pain (r=-0.59; p= 0.01) and social limitation (r=-0.60; p= 0.01). Pain intensity was significant when correlated with catastrophism (r=0.51; p=0.03), anxiety (r=0.55; p=0.02), and pain interference with catastrophism (r=0.70; p=0.002), anxiety (r= 0.49; p=0.05) and with the pain intensity itself (r=0.78; p=0.0003).

Conclusion: Individuals who have chronic nonspecific neck pain and present some of the psychometric factors studied, have less quality of life, and more pain interference in their life.