[Psychosomatic rehabilitation: effects of pre-treatment counselling under the statutory pension insurance scheme].

BACKGROUND

Currently, little is known about the influence of pre-treatment in rehabilitation outcomes of patients with psychosomatic symptoms. This study examines whether there are differences in therapy motivation and impairment between patients with and those without pre-treatment measures. Additionally, the outcome for patients with prior knowledge of psychosomatic rehabilitation is analyzed.

METHODS

As part of a randomized controlled pre-post design the Patients' questionnaire of therapy motivation (PAREMO) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were distributed to 166 patients in psychosomatic rehabilitation. The selection of patients with prior knowledge of psychosomatic rehabilitation was made according to the scale "knowledge" of the patients' questionnaire. Changes were tested by analysis of variance at two treatment points.

RESULTS

Although there were positive effects of rehabilitation, no interaction was found between measurement points and groups. The analyses of patients without prior knowledge of psychosomatic rehabilitation showed different outcomes for males and females. Higher rehabilitation outcomes for females than for males were found on the BSI scales "somatisation", "phobic anxiety", and "psychoticism".

CONCLUSIONS

The findings show that pre-treatment facilitates the patients' approach to psychosomatic rehabilitation. Apart from receiving information patients should be motivated more strongly and their confidence in psychosomatic rehabilitation strengthened.