Die rol van denkpatrone en lokus van beheer in die behandelingsrespons van pasiënte met chroniese pyn

[摘要] In this study an inquiry was made into the role of beliefs and locus of control in thetreatment response of patients who suffer from chronic pain. Firstly a penetrating studywas made of the problematic nature of chronic pain on the basis of extensive butdirected research work. The focus fell on the psychological aspects related to chronicpain and the expected role of beliefs and locus of control concerning this matter.In this study it was found that chronic pain appears to be a complex phenomenonwhich consists of physiological and psychosocial aspects. As the measurement of painis complex and subjective, the psychological evaluation of chronic pain patientsappears to be of great importance. Although the causality of reference betweenconstructs did not always seem to be clear, the role of beliefs and locus of control inchronic pain was indicated. Patients suffering from chronic pain are apt to be victims ofirrational beliefs and an external locus of control.In an empirical study the correlation between beliefs, locus of control and treatment: :response of patients suffering from chronic pain was made. A correlational researchdesign was followed. The difference in the pain score, before and after treatment, thebeliefs- as well as the locus of control score, were obtained. According to the resultsfounded in this study, locus of control is a predictive variable of treatment response.Patients who uphold a chance health locus of control, showed a significant poorerresponse to treatment than those who uphold an internal health locus of control. It wasalso found that patients who uphold a chance health locus of control, were moreinclined to be victims of irrational beliefs. The patients who uphold an internal healthlocus of control, tend to uphold a rational belief system and responded better totreatment.The data obtained could be compared to the literature study to reach an integratedunderstanding of the role that beliefs and locus of control play in the treatment ofpatients who suffer from chronic pain. From this the importance of the psychologicalaspect of chronic pain was once more emphasized.In conclusion it can be said that chronic pain is a complex phenomenon and that thepsychologist plays an important role in the evaluation and treatment of patients whosuffer from chronic pain.

[发布机构] University of the Free State