Anxiety Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anxiety, including details on anxiety disorder, panic attacks, medication, counselling, therapy.

Radiological examination in low back pain patients: anxiety of the patient? Anxiety of the therapist?

Balagué F, Cedraschi C

Clinic of Rheumatology and Service of Physical Medicine and Reeducation, Fribourg Cantonal Hospital, 1708 Fribourg, Switzerland. balaguef@hopcantfr.ch

A review of the recent literature shows that guidelines on the management of low back pain (LBP) have little impact on the use of radiological imagery. Among the factors which might account for the use of radiological examination, a review of the literature points to some that refer to the patient, others to the clinician and still others to the therapeutic interaction. This leads one to question the importance of radiological examination for both the patient and the physician. The matter at stake in this review is the relationship that may exist between this type of examination and the patient's and/or the physician's anxiety. If these aspects are associated or causally related, this relationship can be two-sided and is thus susceptible to affect the patient, the physician, or both. Some possible keys which emphasize the central role of the therapeutic relationship in this predicament are also reviewed.

Published 2 October 2006 in Joint Bone Spine, 73(5): 508-13.
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