[Prognostic criteria of behavioral pain treatment in groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

The effectiveness of behavior therapy programs for the treatment of pain of various origin can be regarded as proven. However, there is a general lack of information about prognostic and indication criteria. These questions were investigated by means of a controlled, cognitive-behavioral orientated clinical study on 79 patients with the certified diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. While our study was also able to prove short-term effectiveness for all patients, some exhibited regressive effects during the six-month follow-up period. A lack of regular practice and the presence of neurotic disorders were responsible for this instability. Patients who already have neurotic disorders prior to arthritis should accordingly be given more intensive psychotherapy. In this exceeding a standard-program psychotherapy can be dealt with the disease-related and other psychosocial problems and conflicts on an integrative basis.