Giulia Martello
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Giulia Martello has a total of 13 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Alice Laudisio
Operative Research Unit of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy
2 shared publications - Anna Anselmo
IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy
2 shared publications - Davide Cardile
IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy
2 shared publications - Fabrizio Russo
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
2 shared publications - Francesco Corallo
Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy
2 shared publications - Irene Cappadona
IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy
2 shared publications
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 5 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Brain Sciences
- Vol. 16 (3) , 290
Central Sensitization as a Marker of Cognitive and Emotional Vulnerability in Chronic Low Back Pain
Background and Aim: Low back pain (LBP) represents an important public health issue, with approximately 20% of acute cases progressing to chronic low back pain (CLBP). In addition to pain, patients with CLBP also suffer from reduced cognitive performance, depressive symptoms and catastrophic thoughts. Central sensitization (CS) is considered a key point in pain persistence. This study examines CS and its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning in patients with CLBP. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 67 patients with CLBP were classified using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) into groups with (WCS, n = 32) and without central sensitization (WoCS, n = 35). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), emotional functioning using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and behavioral functioning using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), including helplessness, rumination, and magnification domains. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Between-group comparisons were performed using Mann–Whitney U, chi-square, or Welch’s t-tests. Multivariable linear regression analyses adjusted for age and gender were conducted. Results: Compared with the WoCS group, patients with central sensitization were older (median 58 vs. 50 years, p = 0.001) and more frequently female (71.9% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.018). The WCS group showed higher PCS total scores (31.8 ± 14.2 vs. 16.0 ± 11.9), higher helplessness (14.3 ± 6.1 vs. 6.9 ± 5.5), rumination (12.7 ± 6.2 vs. 7.0 ± 4.8), and magnification scores (4.8 ± 2.4 vs. 2.1 ± 2.1), higher CES-D scores (26.3 ± 10.4 vs. 11.7 ± 7.2), and lower MoCA scores (23.6 ± 3.0 vs. 26.1 ± 2.1) (all p < 0.001). All associations remained significant after adjustment for age and gender. Conclusions: Central sensitization in CLBP is independently associated with greater pain catastrophizing across all domains, increased depressive symptoms, and reduced cognitive performance, supporting its role as a multidimensional clinical phenotype.
- 5 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Brain Sciences
- Vol. 16 (3) , 290
Open AccessCentral Sensitization as a Marker of Cognitive and Emotional Vulnerability in Chronic Low Back Pain
Background and Aim: Low back pain (LBP) represents an important public health issue, with approximately 20% of acute cases progressing to chronic low back pain (CLBP). In addition to pain, patients with CLBP also suffer from reduced cognitive performance, depressive symptoms and catastrophic thoughts. Central sensitization (CS) is considered a key point in pain persistence. This study examines CS and its impact on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning in patients with CLBP. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 67 patients with CLBP were classified using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) into groups with (WCS, n = 32) and without central sensitization (WoCS, n = 35). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), emotional functioning using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and behavioral functioning using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), including helplessness, rumination, and magnification domains. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Between-group comparisons were performed using Mann–Whitney U, chi-square, or Welch’s t-tests. Multivariable linear regression analyses adjusted for age and gender were conducted. Results: Compared with the WoCS group, patients with central sensitization were older (median 58 vs. 50 years, p = 0.001) and more frequently female (71.9% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.018). The WCS group showed higher PCS total scores (31.8 ± 14.2 vs. 16.0 ± 11.9), higher helplessness (14.3 ± 6.1 vs. 6.9 ± 5.5), rumination (12.7 ± 6.2 vs. 7.0 ± 4.8), and magnification scores (4.8 ± 2.4 vs. 2.1 ± 2.1), higher CES-D scores (26.3 ± 10.4 vs. 11.7 ± 7.2), and lower MoCA scores (23.6 ± 3.0 vs. 26.1 ± 2.1) (all p < 0.001). All associations remained significant after adjustment for age and gender. Conclusions: Central sensitization in CLBP is independently associated with greater pain catastrophizing across all domains, increased depressive symptoms, and reduced cognitive performance, supporting its role as a multidimensional clinical phenotype.