Social medical outcome and treatment assessment of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome after psychosomatic rehabilitation
Aim of the study:
Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are considered to be a socio-medical risk group with high pension demands. In addition, the assumption is expressed that FMS patients are sceptical about psychotherapy and prefer physical and medically oriented treatment measures. These hypotheses are to be tested on a sample of FMS patients in the long-term course after psychosomatic rehabilitation.
Methods:
The sample consisted of FMS patients who had participated in rehabilitation treatment at the MediClin Kliniken Blieskastel between 2004 and 2008. On average 3.4 years after rehabilitation, the test persons received a questionnaire with questions on rehabilitation and socio-medical status.
Results:
Of 579 FMS patients, 221 responded, which corresponds to a response rate of 38.2 percent. The FMS patients were on average 53.5 ± 6.1 years old and 95.9 percent female. Of these, 20.6 percent were full-time and part-time employed at the time of catamnesis, 6.1 percent had a minijob, 10.1 percent were jobseekers and 40.4 percent were no longer employed. 68.7 percent of FMS patients reported in retrospect that they benefited greatly or somewhat from the inpatient treatment in terms of their quality of life and level of activity, 61.1 percent reported an improvement in pain and 59.7 percent an improvement in depression, an improvement in related symptoms of 48.3 percent. When asked which modules of the therapy programme were helpful, 82.5 percent named psychotherapy, 82.0 percent physical therapy (exempla gratia heat therapy), 74.9 percent endurance training, 71.5 percent patient training and 50.3 percent drug therapy.
Discussion:
The majority (59.6 percent) of FMS patients are still able to work 3.4 years after inpatient rehabilitation. Psychotherapy, physical applications and endurance training were found to be particularly helpful in rehabilitation. Quality of life, activity level and pain were particularly improved. A negative attitude towards psychotherapy ora one-sided preference for physical therapies could not be proven in the sample of patients ofa psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic examined here.