Die somatische Rehabilitation als Arbeitsfeld für Psychologen: Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Befragung zu Strukturen und Praxis in der stationären orthopädischen und kardiologischen Rehabilitation

Abstract

A detailed analysis of the present structural quality and practice of psychological services in inpatient medical rehabilitation facilities was conducted. The study was carried out for the indications chronic back pain and coronary heart disease. A nationwide postal survey of psychological services in orthopaedic and cardiac inpatient rehabilitation facilities was carried out. Data from psychology departments of 169 orthopaedic and 75 cardiac inpatient rehabilitation facilities are available. In both indication areas an average of one psychologist is in charge of 100 patients. In the treatment of patients with chronic back pain and coronary heart disease, several methods of psychological assessment and a wide range of psychological interventions are being applied. On the whole, there are notable parallels between the psychological interventions provided to patients with chronic back pain and coronary heart disease. At the same time, however, there is considerable heterogeneity among rehabilitation facilities as to the psychological interventions carried out. The heterogeneity found reveals the low degree of standardization of psychological practice in medical rehabilitation of patients with chronic back pain or coronary heart disease. This emphasizes the need for developing and implementing recommendations or practice guidelines for psychological interventions.