Illness behaviour syndromes associated with intractable pain

Abstract

One hundred patients, referred for the management of intractable pain, completed a 52-item Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ). Responses were scored on 7 scales: general hypochondriasis, disease conviction, psychological versus somatic perception of illness, affective inhibition, affective disturbance, denial, and irritability. IBQ scale profiles were subjected to numerical analysis and 6 taxonomic clusters were identified. Patients in groups 1-3 were characterized by a relatively non-neurotic, reality-oriented attitude to illness, as indicated by low scores on the first three scales. Patients in groups 4-6 manifested greater evidence of 'abnormal illness behaviour', and presented syndromes resembling 'hysteria', 'conversion reaction', and 'hypothchondriasis' respectively.

Controlled Study of Alexithymic Characteristics in Patients with Psychogenic Pain Disorder

“…Pilowsky and Spence [28] noted that pain patients reject the suggestion that their pain is psychological and report difficulty in expressing feelings. Blumer and Heilbronn [29] observed that chronic pain patients typi cally display alexithymie characteristics.…”

Psychosomatic Medicine: Integrating Dynamic, Behavioral and Biological Perspectives

“…In such a developmental context pain is utilized as a masochistic symptom to ward off abandonment. From a behavioral perspective, the chronic pain patient 'learns' to give in to chronic pain since he is allowed the sick role and absolved from normal duties [62] , Financial compensation reinforces this behavior. Analgesic medication given on de mand further reinforces a passive coping style.…”

Factors Associated with ‘Masked’ Psychological Illness in the Elderly

“…The IBQ [12] is a 62 item self-report instrument which delineates illness behaviour, particularly those aspects related to inappropriate or maladaptive modes of responding to illness. It was devised initially on a pain clinic population [ 12] but it has since been used with rheumatology, cardiovascular and family prac tice patients, and it has also been used as a screening instrument [11].…”

“…It was devised initially on a pain clinic population [ 12] but it has since been used with rheumatology, cardiovascular and family prac tice patients, and it has also been used as a screening instrument [11]. It provides 7 scales: general hypo chondriasis, disease conviction, psychological versus somatic perception of illness, affective inhibition, dys phoria, denial and irritability.…”