SCS and Psychological Readiness
The Gap Between Treatment Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction
Research on SCS treatment outcomes has revealed some interesting findings.
When measured objectively (using standardized questionnaire scores), approximately 90% of SCS patients show measurable improvement. However, when asked "Are you glad you had this treatment?", only about 60% report being satisfied.
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Objective improvement (questionnaire scores) | Approximately 90% improved |
| Patient satisfaction | Approximately 60% satisfied |
| Gap | Approximately 30% |
What explains this 30% gap?
Physically improved but not satisfied — the key factor behind this is the patient's psychological state before treatment. In particular, depressive symptoms and certain "thinking patterns about pain" are known to significantly affect post-treatment satisfaction.