The Influence of Coping Strategies and Catastrophizing on Patients With Back and Neck Pain

The Influence of Coping Strategies and Catastrophizing on Patients With Back and Neck Pain Treated Within the Spanish National Health Service

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of coping strategies and catastrophizing thoughts on disability and the prognosis of back and neck pain in patients treated within the Spanish National Health Service. Patients will be given a visual analog scale (VAS) to rate intensity of pain, the Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) or the Neck Disability Index (NDI) to rate the degree of disability, and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) to rate coping strategies and catastrophizing. Questionnaires will be given at baseline and three months later.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects treated for back or neck pain in the Spanish National Health Service.
• Able to read and write Spanish.
• Have signed the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis or "red flags" for systemic diseases (e.g., cancer, infection).
• Pain due to fracture or direct trauma to the neck or back.
• Criteria for referral to surgery (e.g., neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis, cauda equina syndrome, serious nerve root compression for more than 6 weeks due to disc herniation).