Cognitive Behaviour Assessment in Chronic Non Specific Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Literature showed that patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) have slowed speeds of information processing and working memory. Methods for assessment of cognition behaviour are decisive for the implementation Of Cognitive behavioural therapies. There remains a large component of the adherence process not assessed, while treating non specific chronic Low back Pain, and the known role for treatment appraisals and beliefs necessitating the pursuit of improved assessment methods. The purpose of this review is to analyze the content and psychometric properties of the available literature in regard to various Cognitive behaviour assessment tools available for patients with CLBP. Objective: To undertake a narrative review of Cognitive Behaviour Assessment for the consideration of their role in emotional disorders, and the question of the accessibility of cognitive information when treating chronic conditions like Low Back Pain. Methods: Keyword searches of Medline, CINAHL, ISI, and IBSS databases. Manual searches of other relevant journals and reference lists of primary articles. Results: Seven articles were included out of 13 articles. A total of 1261 participants with chronic low back pain took part in the studies. The relation between pain area and other psychological factors such as anxiety, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, memory disturbances and concentration difficulties were reported. Conclusion: The findings suggest that only depression might have a weak relation with the pain area. A definitive answer on the relation of psychological factors and pain area is not available. Future studies that investigate sensory, psychological, emotional, cognitive and behavioural aspects, and also more accurate methods of cognition assessment, are needed.

Development and Validation of the Cognitive Behavior Questionnaire in Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain (CBQ-NSCLBP)

“…Previous research suggests a strong association between psychological distress, catastrophizing, fearavoidance belief, and NSCLBP [4,14]. Analysis and interpretation of these associated factors are very important when we are treating NSCLBP [15][16][17][18][19][20].…”