Which of the following is most likely not an underlying cause of chronic back pain?

• A. Major depressive disorder
• B. Generalized anxiety disorder
• C. Somatic symptom disorder
• D. Schizophrenia

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of chronic back pain, which is often influenced by psychological factors such as mood disorders, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorders that can amplify or maintain pain perception.
2. Step 2: Review each disorder's typical symptoms and how they relate to chronic pain. Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder often involve heightened pain sensitivity and can contribute to chronic pain conditions.
3. Step 3: Recognize that somatic symptom disorder involves excessive focus on physical symptoms, which can include chronic pain, making it a plausible underlying cause.
4. Step 4: Consider schizophrenia, which primarily involves psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, and is less commonly associated with chronic pain as a direct underlying cause.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the options, schizophrenia is most likely not an underlying cause of chronic back pain due to its distinct symptom profile compared to the other disorders.