Study Design: Descriptive, ex post facto. Objectives: To determine the proportion of physical therapy outpatients with pain who exhibit various pain behavior profiles, and to determine whether there are differences in functional disability across the profiles. Background: Physical therapists treat many patients who have chronic pain. Research suggests that early identification and multidisciplinary treatment are effective and economical for these patients. The Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) and the Pain Disability Index (PDI) are potential screening tools that could be used in physical therapy clinics to determine which patients should be referred for multidisciplinary treatment. Methods and Measures: MPI and PDI data were gathered on 57 physical therapy outpatients (mean age 44.3 ± 14.5 years, 22 men and 35 women) with pain of 3 or more months duration. ANOVA was used to analyze differences in mean PDI scores across the MPI profiles. Results: Of all patients, 42.1% fit the Adaptive Coper profile, 29.8% fit the lnterpersonally Distressed profile, and 28.1% fit the Dysfunctional profile. There were significant differences in PDI scores among profile groups. Post hoc analysis showed that the PDI scores of the Adaptive Coper and lnterpersonally Distressed groups were different from the Dysfunctional group, but that there was no difference between the Adaptive Coper and Interpersonally Distressed groups. Conclusions: Many patients in outpatient physical therapy settings exhibit behavioral, affective, and cognitive characteristics associated with chronic pain. Thirty-three patients (57.9%) had MPI profiles (interpersonally distressed and dysfunctional) that suggest they might benefit from multidisciplinary treatment.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2001;31(2):90-95.

Key Words: chronic pain, Multidimensional Pain Inventory, Pain Disability Index