[Relationship between self-efficacy expectations and socio-medical status of patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder (ICD-10: F45.4)].

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to investigate the connection between self-efficacy and socio-medical status as well as the connection between changes in both areas in patients with somatoform pain disorder.

METHOD: In the framework of a naturalistic design, a total of n = 316 patients with somatoform pain disorder were investigated at the beginning and end of psychosomatic in-patient rehabilitation regarding self-efficacy (Aachener Selbstwirksamkeitsfragebogen - ASF) and socio-medical status (application for pension, subjective need for pension, periods of sick leave, pain chronicity). The data were analysed by linear structural equation models in confirmatory factor analyses with cross validation.

RESULTS: The postulated model for correlation between self-efficacy and socio-medical status at the beginning of the in-patient treatment could be confirmed and showed a significant correlation coefficient between both areas. The postulated model for correlation between changes in self-efficacy and socio-medical status from beginning to end of the in-patient treatment could also be confirmed and showed a high correlation coefficient between both areas.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with somatoform pain disorder self-efficacy showed a significant correlation with the socio-medical status. Moreover, high correlations were found between changes in both areas. The increase of self-efficacy should therefore be a major goal in all therapies.