A Study of Psychogenic Symptoms in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain(CLBP) is one of the most common afflictions of humans. Between 70% and 80% of the population experience back pain some time during their lives. Especially, back pain is the most common cause of limited activity in individual under age 45. METHODS: The prepared questionnaire and SCL-MPD(symptom check list-minor psychiatric disorders) were presented to subjects who visited our hospital for occupational routine check. The questionnaire was composed of duration and severity of back pain. The subject were divided into two groups, respectively with chronic low back pain history and without history. The differences of psychogenic symptoms between both groups were analysed. RESULTS: In general characteristics, there was no significant difference between both groups. There were significant differences in somatization, anxiety, depression, anger-hostilily, phobic anxiety, neurasthenic, hypochondriacal, interpersonal sensitivity and general dimensions between both groups(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in obsessive-compulsive dimension between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed the presence of various psychogenic symptoms in chronic low back pain patients. Such psychosocial variables will need to receive additional careful attention in primary care setting.

Health Behaviors and Health Perception among medical and non-medical students

BACKGROUND: The interest of medicine was moved from disease treatment to disease prevention and health promotion. Especially, there has been marked increased interest in health promotion recently. Perception and health behaviors held or acquired during medical training can influence the acceptance and prevention strategies. This exploratory study surveyed medical and non-medical student to assess both preventive health behaviors and perception, to find relations of personal behaviors and corresponding perception. METHODS: This survey were conducted 140 medical students and 131 non-medical students in one big city. Data were obtained by self-reported questionnaire. Weschler survey was adapted to assess perception toward preventive behavior, and Fantastic lifestyle was adapt,ed to assess health behavior. RESULTS: Among the questionnaire of perception of preventive behavior, quitting cigarette smoking ranked highest frequency as very important in medical student. In non-medical student, use seat-belt is ranked highest frequency. Mean score of FANTASTIC lifestyle is 29.98 in medical student, 28.86 in non-medical. The result show significant relationship between st,udent-reported behavior and corresponding perception in 6 qestionnaire that is eat breakfast, moderate or no alcohol use, eliminate smoking, use seat belt, limit coffee, get seven hours sleep. CONCLUSIONS: In comparing medical and non-medical students, health perception and health behavior were no significant difference. Overall, the result indicated that the preponderance of respondents that is engaging in health behaviors are high in health perception.