Comparison of Prospective and Retrospective Memory and Attention in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain with Healthy People

Objective: The present study aimed to compare prospective and retrospective memory impairment and attention deficit in people suffering from chronic low back pain with those cognitive functions in healthy subjects. Furthermore, this study examines the relation between severity and duration of pain and prospective and retrospective memory impairment and attention deficit. Methods: The research was a causality-comparative study. Using convenience sampling method, 53 male patients and 53 healthy male individuals were selected. The participants were asked to fill out prospective and retrospective memory questionnaire and pain numeric rating scale (NRS). In addition, a continuous performance test was performed. The study hypotheses were tested using two independent group T-test and the Pearson correlation analysis by SPSS 22 with the significant level of 0.05.  Results: The results showed that there was significant difference between the 2 groups of participants regarding prospective memory, but no significant difference regarding retrospective memory. With respect to hypotheses, significant difference was found between the two groups regarding attention. And finally results of the study did not show any relation between duration and intensity of pain with impairment in prospective and retrospective memory and attention. Conclusion: The prospective memory impairment and attention deficits are associated with chronic low back pain. In general,  hronic pain is associated with cognitive impairment.