Comparison of rehabilitation outcome between patients with psychophysiologic disorders and organic diseases.

Two groups of patients with either psychophysiologic disorders or organic diseases were examined four weeks prior to an in-patient rehabilitation treatment, at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation, and six months thereafter. Data were collected through questionnaires assessing personality dimensions, physical complaints, hypochondriac behaviour, mood, disease concepts, living habits, and socio-economic as well as medical data. The groups were comparable according to a wealth of socio-economic and medical data but differed in extraversion, emotional lability, physical complaints, mood, disease concepts, and performance during ergometric exercise. Even before treatment there were changes in some variables between the examination at home and the examination at the onset of the treatment. Many short-term and long-term positive treatment effects could be observed but some adverse trends also emerged. Changes in personality dimensions, mood, and disease concepts revealed differential trends for both groups. The results are discussed in the context of the illness behaviour concept.