The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Psychological factors including fear avoidance beliefs are believed to influence the development of chronic low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Evidence suggests that fear avoidance beliefs are prognostic for poor outcome in subacute LBP, and thus early treatment, including interventions to reduce fear avoidance beliefs, may avoid delayed recovery and chronicity.
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The clinical syndrome of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a commonly diagnosed lumbar condition associated with pain and disability. Psychological factors, including depression, also affect these and other health-related outcomes. Yet, the prognostic value of depression specifically in the context of LSS is unclear. ⋯ Findings support that preoperative depression is likely a prognostic factor for postoperative LSS-related symptom severity and disability at various follow-up points. The prognostic value of depression on the outcomes of pain and walking capacity is less clear. Nonetheless, depression should be considered in the clinical care of this population.