Pre-injection psychological test scores, surgeon ratings, and patient
biographical data were evaluated as predictors of success of chymopapain
injection therapy in 130 patients who would otherwise have been treated by
laminectomy. Three psychological tests were administered to each patient:
the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, the Cornell Medical Index,
and the Quick Test (a measure of mental ability). In addition, the surgeons
rated their patients on a five-point scale immediately after injection
relative to their suitability for injection therapy and at one year
relative to the objective and symptomatic results. The MMPI hysteria and
hypochondriasis scales and the surgeon's rating of the psychogenic
component of the patient's pain were predictive of the result of
chemonucleolysis. The patient's biographical data which consisted of age,
sex, marital status, occupation, and education were not related to
postoperative outcome.