Prevalence of psychopathology in carpal tunnel syndrome patients

Lynda B. Mathis, Robert Joseph Gatchel, Peter B. Polatin, H. Jay Boulas, Regina K. Kinney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study assessed the prevalence rates of psychopathology in acute carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and acute low back pain (LBP) patients. Psychopathology was assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-III-R (SCID). The results showed that the CTS patients had significantly higher rates of anxiety disorders, both current and lifetime, than the LBP patients. However, LBP patients had significantly higher rates of lifetime substance abuse than the CTS patients. In regard to other types of psychopathology, such as depression, current substance abuse, and somatoform pain disorders, CTS patients had similar rates as the LBP patients. It was concluded that anxiety disorders may be a concomitant of carpal tunnel syndrome, and that treating psychological problems along with physical aspects of the syndrome may increase the patient's chance of a successful therapeutic outcome.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)199-210
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1994

Keywords

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • DSM-III-R
  • Low Back Pain
  • Psychopathology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence of psychopathology in carpal tunnel syndrome patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this