Psychometric construction and validity of the Pilowsky Illness Behaviour Questionnaire in British patients with chronic low back pain.

The psychometric construction and validity of the 62-item Illness Behaviour Questionnaire has been examined in a study of 200 British patients suffering from chronic low back pain. 25 of the 62 items were unsatisfactory. Three new scales (AHD, LD and SI) represented a statistical improvement on the original scales, but were of little additional value to established measures in the analysis of reported pain or disability. The results indicate the need to reconsider the nature of hypochondriasis and abnormal illness behaviour.