Second only to headaches in the ranking of painful disorders that affect humans, low back pain is a common cause of morbidity and incapacity and is associated with significant social and economic impact1,2. Epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of low back pain in the general population is between 50 and 80%3-5: Low back pain is one of the principal causes of medical consultation...

BACKGROUND In Uganda, a previous study reported high HIV prevalence in persons with severe mental illness (SMI) compared to the general population, suggesting that persons with SMI might constitute a high-risk group for HIV. However, the study included first-time psychiatric admissions only, a group whose HIV prevalence may not reflect the prevalence in persons with SMI in general. We determine...

II. BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 A. Ms. Schiavo’s Illness and Incapacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 B. Medical Malpractice Suit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 C. The Litigation: Regarding the Guardianship of Theresa Marie Schiavo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Basic knowledge needed by clinicians for treating work incapacity and performing effective impairment and disability evaluations includes an awareness of the distinction between impairment and disability, the regulations of specific disability systems, familiarity with the impairment rating process, and a sensitivity to the social and legal contexts of disability. The health care provider willi...

OBJECTIVE To assess whether CFS-like caseness (meeting the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)) predicts work status in the long term. METHODS Prospective study in a sample of fatigued employees absent from work. Data were collected at baseline and four years later, and included CFS-like caseness and work status (inactive work status and full work incapacity). RESULTS CFS-like cases...

INTRODUCTION Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the axial skeletal system, causing pain and functional incapacity. To measure the impact of AS on patient's life, questionnaires are used to assess disease activity (BASDAI); functional incapacity (BASFI); and quality of life (ASQoL). Fibromyalgia (FM) is one of the most common causes of generalized pain and...

Background: The quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with poor pulmonary function, respiratory symptoms, incapacity to perform daily activities, as well as mental and cognitive disorders. Although there exists some evidence regarding the effect of socioeconomic status on the quality of life in the general population and those with chronic d...