Abstrakt
Time-dependent changes in pain threshold, pain, affects, fatigue and conflicts in family were analyzed. It was supposed that pain, negative affects, fatigue and conflicts in family increase with time, and pain threshold remains unchanged. 108 rheumatic inpatients (AGE: M = 49.57, SD = 15.60 years, LASTING of pain: 7.67, SD = 7.68 years) were investigated by Visual Analogue Scales (Intensity and Unpleasantness of Pain, Suffering), Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Pain Beliefs and Perception Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory - Short Form, ACTIVITY 5 (home and family stress) and Pain-tester (pain threshold).
The oblique factors Pain Feeling, Affective Processes, Home and Family, and Threshold of Pain were isolated. The factor score was the dependent, the LASTING of pain, AGE and SEX were the independents in the stepwise regression analysis.
Pain Feeling, most of all factors, increases with the LASTING of pain, in older patients especially (R-2= .131, p < .001). The Affective Processes (Anxiety, Anger, Depression) increase with die LASTING too (R-2 =.028, p < .05), the increase is steeper in older patients and women.
The Home and Family (Fatigue and Worry, Relations) also grow with the LASTING of pain (R-2=.028, p < .05), but more in women. The threshold does not depend on the LASTING of pain.
The correlations show increasing pain, negative affects, fatigue and family conflicts during the long lasting rheumatic disease.