Abstract:
Introduction. Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and a significant burden on healthcare systems. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms behind the relationship between clinical, structural, and psychoemotional factors influencing pain intensity and depressive symptoms remain poorly understood.Materials and methods. The study included 32 patients (17 men, 15 women) aged 22-72 years with pain lasting more than 3 months. All participants underwent clinical examinations, MRI to assess intervertebral herniation, and completed the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS) and the PHQ-9 questionnaire to screen for depression. Patients were divided into groups with (n = 18) and without (n = 14) radicular syndrome. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of pain intensity and depression levels.Results. Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of depressive symptoms (β= -1.71; p = 0.009) and the presence of radicular syndrome (β= -1.18; p = 0.036) were significantly associated with pain intensity. The presence of an intervertebral hernia showed a tendency to increase pain (β= 2.34; p = 0.055). Regarding depression, the presence of a hernia was the only significant factor associated with increased depressive symptoms (β= 10.64; p = 0.007). Comparing groups with and without radicular syndrome did not reveal statistically significant differences in the average pain level.Conclusions. The intensity of low back pain is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including psychoemotional state and the presence of radicular syndrome, rather than only structural spine changes. These findings highlight the importance of a multidimensional and individualized approach to managing patients with chronic low back pain, considering both clinical and psychoemotional aspects.
