A phenomenological approach to understanding the psychological response to chronic low back pain
Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a complex health problem of psychological \nmanifestations not fully understood. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, 11 \nsemi-structured interviews were conducted to help understand the meaning of the lived \nexperience of CLBP; focusing on the psychological response to pain and the role of \ndepression, catastrophizing, fear-avoidance behavior, anxiety and somatization. \nParticipants characterized CLBP as persistent tolerable low back pain (TLBP) interrupted \nby periods of intolerable low back pain (ILBP). ILBP contributed to recurring bouts of \nhelplessness, depression, frustration with the medical system and increased fear based on \nthe perceived consequences of anticipated recurrences, all of which were mediated by the \nuncertainty of such pain. During times of TLBP all participants pursued a permanent pain \nconsciousness as they felt susceptible to experience a recurrence. As CLBP progressed, \nparticipants felt they were living with a weakness, became isolated from those without \nCLBP and integrated pain into their self-concept.
Author: Matthew Aymar
Language: English
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1496029240