Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms and Pain-Related Outcomes in Nonsurgical Chronic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To examine the associations of depressive and anxiety symptoms with pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: A single-center outpatient orthopedic and spine clinic at Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects: One hundred twelve consecutive patients with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed lumbar spinal stenosis, aged 40 years or older, with symptoms lasting at least 3 months, were recruited from an outpatient orthopedic and spine clinic and evaluated by an expert neurosurgeon for eligibility. Eligible patients were not candidates for surgery and were assessed before receiving treatment. Methods: Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Pain intensity and disability were measured using the Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index. Associations were examined using univariate and multivariable linear regression models adjusted for prespecified demographic and clinical covariates. Results: In the fully adjusted model, higher depressive symptom scores were associated with greater pain intensity (regression coefficient = 0.079, 95% confidence interval = 0.018 to 0.141, P = 0.012) and disability (regression coefficient = 0.684, 95% confidence interval = 0.372 to 0.997, P < 0.001). Higher anxiety symptom scores were associated with greater disability (regression coefficient = 0.662, 95% confidence interval = 0.325 to 0.962, P < 0.001), but not with pain intensity (regression coefficient = 0.026, 95% confidence interval = -0.033 to 0.086, P = 0.386). Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were associated with greater pain intensity and disability, whereas anxiety symptoms were associated with disability but not pain intensity. These findings indicate associations between depressive and anxiety symptoms and pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis and should not be interpreted as evidence of causal relationships. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine temporal and causal relationships.
Source: Journal of Pain Research
DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s650669
Institution: Babol University of Medical Sciences
Language: English
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,836
OpenAlex ID: W7222842314