[Fibromyalgia in the legal procedures of the german sozialgericht -- psychosocial risk factors and predictors of health care utilization].

Retrospectively all consecutive medical expertise within the appraisal of early retirement/occupational disability or of the status of a severely disabled person in 88 people (85 % female) diagnosed with fibromyalgia who were investigated by a structured pain therapist's and psychotherapeutic assessment were analysed. 44 % had a history of psychiatric disorder, 85 % met the criteria of a current psychiatric disorder according ICD-10. 8 % indicated sexual abuse, 16 % severe physical abuse in childhood or adulthood and 13 % emotional deprivation in the childhood. A preponderance of belonging to lower class compared to the general German population was noted. Former and current psychiatric disorders, biographic adverse experiences, duration of generalized pain, age, sex and social class had no substantial predictive value on the extensive health care utilization (number of doctors, pain-related hospital and rehabilitation stays and pain-related operations).