S323

RAPID GROUP HYPNOSIS AND TRAINING IN PERSONAL CONTROL IN Poster 78 THE REDUCTION OF ISCHAEMIC PAIN. Diana Elton, Pina Boggi-Cavallo, GREEN Th-Fri and Gordon V. Stanley.

-__A

Exhibit Hall Abs No 618

Three groups of students of the University of Salerno, Italy, were tested on ischaemic Pain Threshold and Pain Tolerance. The Control group of 95 subjects (52 females and 43 males), mean age 21.8 years, received a single pain test, involving application of a pressure cuff with a disk with protrusions under it to the dominant arm of the subject. Hypnosis group of 42 subjects (40 females and 2 males), mean age 21.8 years, received a single session of hypnotic induction prior to the pain test. Hypnosis and personal control group of 32 subjects (16 females and 16 males), mean age 23.0 years, received hypnotic induction and suggestion of personal control prior to the pain test. The hypnotic proce- dures included the use of a pendulum, coupled with suggestions of arm elevation and lip analgesia. It was found that hypnotic induction resulted in lower Pain Threshold and Pain Tolerance. Suggestions of personal control and hypnosis further lowered both pain measures.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AS INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR ACTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE PAIN REHABILITATION: WHO CAN BENEFIT? S.A. Tale, Rehabilitation Research Center of the Social Insurance Institution, Peltolantie 3, 20720 Turku 72, Finland

GREEN Th-Fri Exhibit Hall

AIM OF INVESTIGATION: This study was concerned whether all of the chronic low back pain patients could be assigned to a new progressive work hardening program or was it necessary to exclude some patients for psycholo- gical reasons such as mental health, cognitive abilities and motivation.

METHODS: 173 rehabilitation claimants (aged 30-47 yrs; 101 females, 72 males) were randomly assigned to an active or a passive rehabilitation. Structured interviews (DIS, SIDP), Wais-IQs and the patient’s approval/denial to enter to active program were used as measures of mental disorders, cognitive abilities and motivation respectively. Psychological or organic criteria could be used to exclude the patients from the active program. All the excluded patients were offered the traditional rehabilitation and/or some other treatment for their pain problem.

RESULTS: A total of 53 (30%) patients were excluded from the active treatment, 20 (12%) for psychological reasons. 9 of the latter also had organic reasons for exclusions. 33%, 17% and 7.5% out of 173 patients had a diagnosed mental disorder, below average intelligence (IQ<901 and lack of motivation respectively. Mental disorder combined with lack of motivation led to exclusion of 5 patients (3%). Cognitive defects excluded 8 patients (4.5%), 1 of them with a motivation problem. All 13 patients (7.5%) lacking motivation were excluded. The validity of inclusions has been shown by the fact that only 1 person dropped out for psychological reasons. No good way to test the validity of exclusions exists. However, comparing the outcome of the patients excluded from active program for mere psychological reasons with those of the patients randomly assigned to traditional treatment, may help in studying the exclusion validity.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychological factors may not hinder an assignment to active program as often as organic factors. IQ and motivation effected most on exclusions. However, some exclusions for mental disorders had already been made at area1 offices of SII. Follow-up in progress is ex- pected. to show whether stricter psychological factors should have been used as exclusion criteria.