Assessing the Relationship between Psychopathological Conditions, Perceived Social Support and Chronic Low Back Pain among Patients of a Health Facility in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Background: Chronic low back pain significantly increases the risk/incidence of depression and has been the reason for many hospitalizations and the use of auxiliary healthcare services. This study examined whether any relationship existed among psychopathological conditions, perceived social support and chronic low back pain among patients with low back pain. Methods: Adopting a cross-sectional study design, the study sampled 155 chronic low back pain patients from the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in the Central Region of Ghana. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were adopted for the study. Validated preexisting instruments comprising the Oswestry Disability Index, Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used for data collection. The data were analysed using multivariate regression. Results: Chronic low back pain disability has a large influence on depression, anxiety and catastrophizing thoughts of patients. However, the relationship between chronic low back pain and catastrophizing is contingent on the respondent’s level of social support. Conclusion: Chronic low back pain in patients leads to elevated levels of depression, anxiety and catastrophizing thoughts. However, social support reduces catastrophizing thoughts among people living with low back pain. Health practitioners should integrate nonpharmacological interventions such as moderate physical exercise as well as behavioural therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based treatments, and acceptance and commitment therapy to help with the usual pharmacological interventions of caring for chronic low back pain patients.