Pain locus of control predicts return to work among Spanish fibromyalgia patients after completion of a multidisciplinary pain program.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of the pain locus of control on return to work in fibromyalgia patients.


METHODS
Ninety-eight fibromyalgia patients on sick leave were enrolled in a multidisciplinary treatment program and were followed up for 12 months post-discharge. Treatment was considered successful at discharge in the case of patients who returned to work and unsuccessful in patients who remained sick listed. Treatment was considered successful during follow-up in patients who remained at work for at least the last 6 months of follow-up. Patients who took sick leave again and those lost to follow-up were considered failures. Logistic regression methods were used to define the best predictive models of treatment failure.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight patients were considered treatment successes at discharge and 50 at 12-month follow-up. The subscale Fate from the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control-Pain Scale and the Health Assessment Questionnaire predicted treatment failure at discharge (-2lnR=57.79; chi-square=74.74; df=2; P<.001). The predictive model of treatment failure at 12-month follow-up was unspecific.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibromyalgia patients undergoing a multidisciplinary treatment who were least likely to return to work at discharge were those with a pain locus of control characterized by more negative expectations about pain progression and a high perceived functional disability.
Torres
Xavier
X
Clinical Psychology Service, Hospital Clínic i Provincial de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Collado
Antonio
A
Arias
Anna
A
Peri
Josep Maria
JM
Bailles
Eva
E
Salamero
Manel
M
Valdés
Manuel
M
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016730:Program Development; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires