A Holistic Approach to Assessing the Psychological Component in Low Back Pain with the MMPI,
Abstract
There is a growing practice of medical psychology in military medical care facilities, as there is in civilian health care. We would like to focus today on a particular aspect of that practice of medical psychology, the psychological assessment of patients with low back pain, as a fairly representative area with implications for all areas of medical psychology. Three areas will be discussed. First, the history of research in the use of the MMPI in the assessment of low back pain patients and the limitations of the trends in the literature to date. Second, the results of an unpublished quasi-prospective study of MMPI indices for treatment outcome in low back pain patients and discussion of interpretation of MPI elevations and configurations for these patients. And third, discussion of a holistic model of health and illness, the biopsychosocial model, and some thoughts on why health care professionals have difficulty in adhering to this interactive model even when we might espouse it.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADP003753
Entities
People
- F. H. Rath Jr.
- T. Scully
Organizations
- William Beaumont Army Medical Center