Serie: psychologische interventies bij somatische aandoeningen

Abstract

Rheumatic conditions are characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles that can lead to functional disabilities in daily life. In addition, patients frequently report symptoms of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and heightened levels of anxiety and depression. Treatments for rheumatic conditions include psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exercise training. These interventions are illustrated in this study by three common rheumatic conditions, namely rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. Exercise training is often prescribed for these rheumatic conditions and is particularly effective in diminishing disability in daily life, for example in osteoarthritis. CBT appears to be effective in diminishing physical and psychological complaints, such as in rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia is often treated with a combination of CBT and exercise training. However, studies clearly suggest that treatment outcomes can be improved by taking into account the individual variation of patients. Selecting patients at risk and offering them an intervention tailored to their main cognitive-behavioral factors in an early stage has yielded promising results for rheumatoid arthritis and is currently also being applied to patients with other rheumatologic conditions to improve the results of psychological interventions.