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Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Keefe, FJ; Bradley, LA; Crisson, JE
Published in: Pain
February 1990

A hierarchical cluster analysis procedure was used to identify homogeneous subgroups of low back pain patients who show similar pain behavior patterns during a videotaped behavior sample. Subjects, 106 chronic low back pain patients, were divided into 2 samples. The cluster analysis procedure identified 4 very similar subgroups in sample 1 and sample 2. The first subgroup showed a low or moderate level of guarding and a low level of other pain behaviors. The second subgroup showed a high level of guarding and a moderate level of rubbing of the painful area. The third subgroup showed high levels of guarding and moderate levels of bracing and rubbing. The fourth subgroup exhibited a very high level of rubbing and moderate levels of bracing. The subgroups identified may require somewhat different approaches to pain assessment and treatment. The results of this study suggest that the variability in pain behavior evident in low back pain populations may be due to the fact that within these populations there are homogeneous subgroups of patients who differ in the motor pain behaviors they display.

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Published In

Pain

DOI

ISSN

0304-3959

Publication Date

February 1990

Volume

40

Issue

2

Start / End Page

153 / 160

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pain Measurement
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Chronic Disease
  • Back Pain
  • Anesthesiology
  • Adult
  • 52 Psychology
 

Citation

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Keefe, F. J., Bradley, L. A., & Crisson, J. E. (1990). Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups. Pain, 40(2), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(90)90066-M
Keefe, Francis J., Laurence A. Bradley, and James E. Crisson. “Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups.Pain 40, no. 2 (February 1990): 153–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(90)90066-M.
Keefe FJ, Bradley LA, Crisson JE. Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups. Pain. 1990 Feb;40(2):153–60.
Keefe, Francis J., et al. “Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups.Pain, vol. 40, no. 2, Feb. 1990, pp. 153–60. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/0304-3959(90)90066-M.
Keefe FJ, Bradley LA, Crisson JE. Behavioral assessment of low back pain: identification of pain behavior subgroups. Pain. 1990 Feb;40(2):153–160.
Journal cover image

Published In

Pain

DOI

ISSN

0304-3959

Publication Date

February 1990

Volume

40

Issue

2

Start / End Page

153 / 160

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pain Measurement
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Chronic Disease
  • Back Pain
  • Anesthesiology
  • Adult
  • 52 Psychology