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Psychosocial Factors That Can Influence the Self-Assessment of Function

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Abstract

What has plagued the evaluation process in this area has been the level of agreement in the wide variation in the measures used to document a construct such as pain, as well as changes in that construct as reflected in the measurement of function. The present article reviews the major psychosocial barriers to assessment/recovery that have been implicated as influencing the self-assessment of function. The following are discussed: secondary gain; secondary loss; emotional distress (such as anger, anxiety and depression); psychopathology; somatization and symptom magnification; compliance and resistance; patient comprehension/mental status; and iatrogenic effects.

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Correspondence to Robert J. Gatchel.

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Gatchel, R.J. Psychosocial Factors That Can Influence the Self-Assessment of Function. J Occup Rehabil 14, 197–206 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOOR.0000022761.95103.f8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOOR.0000022761.95103.f8

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