[Intention to use and use of treatment due to psychological distress of patients in somatic rehabilitation].
OBJECTIVE
Somatically ill patients in somatic rehabilitation often show comorbid psychological distress and mental disorders. In the framework of the implementation of a stepwise psychodiagnostic procedure, the present study investigated the intention to use and the use of treatment due to psychological distress.


METHODS
Cohort study with a 6-months follow-up in 5 orthopedic, cardiologic and oncologic inpatient rehabilitation clinics (n=1 374). Psychological distress, sociodemographic data, intention to use psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatments and the use of health care offers due to psychological distress were assessed by means of questionnaires.


RESULTS
Every third patient (34%) was psychologically distressed at the beginning of rehabilitation. A positive intention to use psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment was reported by 79% of the psychologically distressed patients. 6 months after the end of rehabilitation, 26% of the patients who were psychologically distressed at the beginning of rehabilitation, had received treatment for mental health reasons. Reasons for non-utilization of treatment included lack of subjective need (45%) and lack of interest in treatment despite a perceived need (30%). Further 25% were considering treatment or were seeking appropriate treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychologically distressed rehabilitation patients show a high intention to undergo treatment. However, they show a clearly diminished use of post-rehabilitative treatments due to mental health problems. Hence, the promotion of motivation as well as the management of treatment barriers for improving post-rehabilitative use in psychologically distressed rehabilitants are of particular importance.
Abteilung für Rehabilitationspsychologie und Psychotherapie, Institut für Psychologie, Universität Freiburg. jeanette.jahed@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de
J
J
Jahed
J
J
Bengel
H
H
Baumeister
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*