Associations Between Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) Scores, Workers' Compensation Status, and Spine Surgery Outcome

This study examines whether workers' compensation (WC) patients respond more poorly to spine surgery than non-WC patients and whether poorer outcome is associated with individual differences in personality and emotional variables, as assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Three-hundred eighty-two patients underwent presurgical psychological screening that included a diagnostic interview and psychometric testing. Pain level, functional ability, work status, medication use, and emotional distress were assessed at baseline and at an average of 6 months postoperative. WC patients showed significantly poorer response to spine surgery than did non-WC patients on measures of pain level, functional ability, work status, medication use, and emotional distress. MMPI-2-RF scales assessing demoralization, somatic complaints, and low positive emotions were found to be incrementally associated with diminished surgery results.