Outcome measures in prediction of occupational disability

Abstract

Chronic pain is a costly and debilitating medical condition. In the United States, approximately 80% of visits to physicians are related to pain (1). Pain affects more than 50 million Americans and consumes more than $70 billion in health care costs and lost productivity (2). The complex nature of pain demands assessment and treatment of both the biological and the psychosocial factors that exacerbate and maintain its symptoms and dysfunctions. © 2005 Springer-Verlag US.