title: Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the upper extremity--a 5.5-year follow-up. Part II. Social life events, general health and changes in occupation.
abstract: The aim of this retrospective long-term follow-up study was to describe the psychosocial aspects, such as social life events (SLE), around the causative event of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and the psychological history of 65 patients, 3-9 years after RSD of the upper extremity. General health and long-term changes in occupation were assessed by means of a general health questionnaire (RAND-36) and a structured interview, respectively. SLE, with a life-change unit rate more than 35, was present in 32 patients. A psychological (or psychiatric) history was found in 22 patients. In total, 60% of the patients had a SLE and/or a psychological history. The pain scores of the RAND-36 among RSD patients differed significantly from those of the control group. 17 patients changed occupation after RSD. Nearly 30% of the patients had to stop work for more than one year. The results show a high coincidence between RSD and associated psychosocial disorders and this may play a role in intensifying and prolonging the symptomatology of RSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Geertzen
authors.forename: P U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: ten Duis
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Eisma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires