Autonomic activity, pain, and perceived health in patients on sick leave due to stress-related illnesses

• Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare autonomic activity, pressure-pain thresholds, and subjective assessments of health and behavior between patients with stress-related illnesses and healthy control subjects. Methods: Twenty sick-listed patients with stress-related disorders and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects performed tests of autonomic regulation and algometric tests, and completed questionnaires about physical and mental health and behavioral patterns. Results: Patients exhibited higher autonomic reactivity to cognitive and physical laboratory tasks (p<0.05), and had lower pressure-pain thresholds in the shoulders and lower back than healthy control subjects (p<0.05). Furthermore, the patients rated considerably poorer health and health behavior than the control subjects (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate an engagement of the autonomic nervous system in stress-related illnesses. Furthermore, they show that patients with stress-related illnesses experience strong symptoms of musculoskeletal pain, and it is therefore recommended that assessments of musculoskeletal pain be incorporated in the clinical examinations and the rehabilitation of patients with stress-related illnesses.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

Arousa physiology

Autonomic Nervous System physiopathology

Female

Health Behavior

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Neuropsychological Tests

Pain Measurement

Pain Threshold physiology

Problem Solving physiology

Psychophysiologic Disorders physiopathology psychology

Sick Leave

Sick Role

Somatoform Disorders physiopathology psychology

Stress

Psychological complications physiopathology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)