This study attempted to identify the psychological characteristics of low back and cervical pain patients. The demographic data, pain related variables, medical diagnosis, MMPI scores, compensation status, psychiatric consultation variables of
100
patients were analysed. Total patients were classified into four clusters. Cluster 1 was regarded as normal. Cluster 2 was characterized by elevation on Hs, D, Hy and is so called 'depressives' profile. Cluster 3 was characterized by elevation on
Hs, Hy
and is so called 'conversion V' profile. Cluster 4 was, like Cluster 1, within normal limit but generally more elevated than cluster 1. Patients with complaints of both lumbar and cervical pain were significantly more distributed in cluster 2, 3.
Patients who were in compensation status and took psychiatric consultation were also significantly more distributed in cluster 2, 3. So cluster 2, 3 patients may be in need of psychotherapy in order to improve pain treatment outcome. The result
of
this
study suggest that MMPI cluster subtypes is valid and useful to intervention of pain patient's rehabilitation.
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