[Patients with versus without psychological disorders in orthopedic rehabilitation]

Abstract

Background: In this study it was examined whether orthopedic rehabilitants with versus without a comorbid mental disorder profit from inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation to the same degree. It was also investigated whether there were differential treatment effects between the traditional and behavioral-medical rehabilitation approaches.

Method: Questionnaires which assess pain-specific and associated variables were issued to a total of 361 patients on admission and discharge from rehabilitation.

Results: In some aspects patients with a mental disorder benefited more from the treatment than patients without comorbidities. Differential treatment effects were found only in patients with a mental disorder and improvements were higher in the behavioral-medical than in the traditional rehabilitation approaches.

Conclusion: Psychological interventions in the inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation are recommended in order to adequately deal with the higher rate of persons with comorbid mental disorders.