Table 2.

Risk factors for the chronification of back pain potentially addressed in the intervention based on cut-off scores in the corresponding questionnaires and core elements of the intervention modules.

Risk factor	Instrument	Cut-off score	Core elements of the intervention module
Depression severity	PHQ-8	≥5	•Symptoms of a depressive episode •Vicious cycle of depression and back pain •Building positive activities and dealing with negative thoughts
Health anxiety	WI-7	≥2	•Physiological effects of anxiety •Connection between anxiety and pain •Relaxation and breathing techniques
Catastrophizing	CSQ-CAT	≥10	•Examples of catastrophizing thoughts •Effects of catastrophizing on pain persistence •Attention redirection and inner distancing by developing helpful, realistic thoughts
Pain endurance	AE-FS	PPS subscale ≥3	•Balance between inactivity and overload •Recognition of personal limits •Temporary acceptance of reduced mobility
Fear of movement and physical inactivity	TSK-GV	≥25	•Vicious cycle of avoidance behavior and pain •Graded exposure •Movement exercises
	IPAQ-SF	≤Moderate physical activity
Symptom and treatment expectations	TEX-Q	Positive expectations ≤6	•Placebo/nocebo effect •Development of expectations •Challenging expectations
		Negative expectations ≥5
	NRS (EXPECT 1, 2, 3)	Mean score ≥ 5
Traumatic experiences	ITQ	≥13	•Link between early trauma and pain •Role of pain memory •Stabilization tools
Emotion regulation deficits	ERQ	Reappraisal ≤4.0	•Distinction between bodily sensations and emotions •Association between emotion regulation deficits and pain •Stimulation of emotional perception
		Suppression ≥3.5

Note. PHQ-8 = Patient Health Questionnaire-8, WI-7 = Whiteley-Index Short Version, CSQ-CAT = Coping Strategies Questionnaire - Subscale, AE-FS = Avoidance-Endurance Fast Screening, TSK-GV = Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, IPAQ-SF = International Physical Activity Questionnaire, TEX-Q = Treatment Expectation Questionnaire, NRS = Numeric Rating Scale, ITQ = International Trauma Questionnaire, ERQ = Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.