Psychological features of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I related dystonia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate psychological features in severely affected patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I-(CRPS-I) related dystonia. Personality traits, psychopathology, dissociative experiences, the number of traumatic experiences, and quality of life were studied in 46 patients. Findings were compared with two historical psychiatric control groups [54 patients with conversion disorder (CD) and 50 patients with affective disorders (AD)] and normative population data. The CRPS-I patients showed elevated scores on the measures for somatoform dissociation, traumatic experiences, general psychopathology, and lower scores on quality of life compared with general population data, but had significantly lower total scores on the measures for personality traits, recent life events, and general psychopathology compared with the CD and AD patients. Rates of early traumatic experiences were comparable with the CD and AD patients, and the level of somatoform dissociation was comparable to the CD patients, but was elevated in comparison to the AD patients. Early traumatic experiences were reported in 87% of the CRPS-I patients and were found to be moderately related to somatoform dissociative experiences, indicating that early traumatic experiences might be a predisposing, although not a necessary factor for the development of CRPS-I-related dystonia. Although the psychological profile of the patients with CRPS-I-related dystonia shows some elevations, there does not seem to be a unique disturbed psychological profile on a group level.2008 Movement Disorder Society

Spatiotemporal integration of sensory stimuli in complex regional pain syndrome and dystonia

“…However, 73% of the patients in our study also participated in a case-control study, in which their psychological characteristics were compared with those of patients with affective and conversion disorders (Reedijk et al 2008). In line with another case-control study (van der Laan et al 1999), this study found no evidence to support a distinct psychological profile in patients with CRPS-related dystonia.…”

Neuroinflammation, Neuroautoimmunity, and the Co-Morbidities of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

“…The nosological effort to define the movement disorders of CRPS as being either physiologic (organic) or psychogenic (non-organic) has been long and controversial (Reedijk et al 2008; Munts and Koehler 2010). Recently, a group of movement disorder specialists, who have studied fixed dystonia in CRPS patients, have stated:

“Traditional medical dualism polarizes opinion as to whether fixed dystonia is best characterized as a psychogenic or an organic disorder.

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Which Affective Temperaments are Common in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

“…11 It was demonstrated that RSD patients were more psychologically dysfunctional than other chronic pain patients. 12 De Vilder commented that patients with CRPS are often considered by physicians and allied health personnel as having a peculiar personality and that they are frequently described as anxious and depressive, emotional, nervous and irritable patients with neurovegetative instability.…”