Cognitive-behavioural and social factors do not predict recurrent secondary healthcare use in patients with fibromyalgia: a longitudinal study.

Objectives: Healthcare use in fibromyalgia (FM) is relatively high. Besides disease-related variables, cognitive-behavioural factors have been concurrently associated with healthcare use. It is unknown whether cognitive-behavioural and social factors also predict future healthcare use.

Can health care providers recognise a fibromyalgia personality?

Objectives: To determine if experienced health care providers (HCPs) can recognise patients with fibromyalgia (FM) based on a limited set of personality items, exploring the existence of a FM personality.

Methods: From the 240-item NEO-PI-R personality questionnaire, 8 HCPs from two different countries each selected 20 items they considered most discriminative of FM personality. Then, evaluating the scores on these items of 129 female patients with FM and 127 female controls, each HCP rated the probability of FM for each individual on a 0-10 scale.

Cost of illness and illness perceptions in patients with fibromyalgia.

Objectives: The disease impact and economic burden of fibromyalgia (FM) are high for patients and society at large. Knowing potential determinants of economic costs may help in reducing this burden. Cognitive appraisals (perceptions) of the illness could affect costs.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy targeting fear of progression in an interdisciplinary care program: a case study in systemic sclerosis.

People living with chronic illness often report uncertainty about the future, fear of disease progression, fear of becoming physically disabled, and a reduced life expectancy as important sources of stress. However, little is known about psychological interventions targeting these concerns. The aim of this study is to illustrate an intervention to reduce emotional distress and concerns about the future in a patient with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a rare chronic rheumatic disease with serious consequences for most patients, and to present a preliminary report on its effectiveness using a single-case study design.

Behavior change, acceptance, and coping flexibility in highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases: feasibility of a cognitive-behavioral therapy in multimodal rehabilitation.

Objective: To describe the development and feasibility of the integration of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) within a multimodal rehabilitation program for highly distressed patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Development included the detailed specification of the theoretical and empirical-based underpinnings of the CBT and the comprehensive description of its design and content. Feasibility was assessed by percentage of eligible patients, attrition and attendance rates, and patient satisfaction.

The coping flexibility questionnaire: development and initial validation in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.

Coping flexibility may be beneficial for the adjustment in the context of a progressive and unpredictable course of chronic rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to develop and initially validate a self-report measure that assesses coping flexibility. Study participants were 147 outpatients with chronic rheumatic diseases (73% women, mean age 59 (range 20-79) years).

Tailored cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise training for high-risk patients with fibromyalgia.

Objective: The treatment of patients with fibromyalgia (FM), a high-prevalence chronic pain condition with a high impact on both patients and society, poses a great challenge to clinicians due to a lack of effective treatments. In view of the large individual variability in outcome, selecting patients at risk of long-term dysfunction and offering tailored treatment may be promising for beneficial treatment effects.

Methods: High-risk patients were selected and classified into 2 groups (pain-persistence and pain-avoidance groups) and subsequently randomized in groups to either a treatment condition (TC) or a waiting list control condition (WLC).

Partner participation in cognitive-behavioral self-management group treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To determine if participation of the spouse of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in cognitive-behavioral oriented self-management training aimed at improving disease related cognitions and coping with pain has additional benefits for the patients.

Methods: A total of 59 couples were randomly assigned to 2 conditions. In the experimental condition the couples participated in a group program aimed at restructuring disease related cognitions and decreasing passive coping.