Screening Pain Patients in a Clinic Practice for Co-Morbid Depression
What is it about?
Occupational therapists, physical therapists, kinesiotherapists, and chiropractors who treat people with painful musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain are confronted frequently with how to identify and manage problems with motivation, including depression. Depressive illness is comorbid with painful musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain and it negatively affects outcomes, including return to work. This paper describes how an outpatient physical and chiropractic clinic successfully managed this problem.
Why is it important?
Depression diminishes compliance with treatment and interferes with return to work, but is outside the scope of practice of occupational therapists, physical therapists, kinesiotherapists, and chiropractors. These clinics develop a method to screen and triage pain patients without disrupting therapy, a model that can be adopted widely.