[The psychic structure of chronic pain patients].
OBJECTIVE
The study investigates the psychic structure and psychiatric comorbidity of chronic pain patients according to Kernberg's concept of personality organization.


METHODS
We assessed 48 chronic pain patients attending the Behavioural Medicine Pain Clinic in the Department of Psychiatry. Patients were diagnosed using the SCID (DSM-IV). Psychic structure was assessed using the Structured Interview of Personality Organization (STIPO).


RESULTS
At least one psychiatric diagnosis was found in 94 % of the patients, and 63 % of the patients met the criteria of at least one diagnosis of a personality disorder. In 58 % of the patients, we diagnosed a borderline personality organization, with high deficits in the dimensions of coping, defence mechanisms and identity.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of borderline personality organization confirms the importance of a diagnostic investigation of the psychic structure and the necessity for psychotherapeutic treatment in chronic pain patients.
Universitätsklinik für Psychoanalyse und Psychotherapie, Medizinische Universität Wien, A-1090 Wien. melitta.fischer-kern@meduniwien.ac.at
Melitta
M
Fischer-Kern
Christian
C
Mikutta
Nestor D
ND
Kapusta
Susanne
S
Hörz
Andrea
A
Naderer
Nikolaus
N
Thierry
Katharina
K
Leithner-Dziubas
Henriette
H
Löffler-Stastka
Martin
M
Aigner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy
Psychische Struktur bei chronischen Schmerzpatienten.