The effect of multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment on spouses of patients with chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain

Background: Research has revealed the influence of spouses on the complaints of patients with nonspecific chronic pain, and vice versa. The effect of multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment (MRT) on patients’ spouses has not been studied yet. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Patients with chronic pain admitted to an outpatient rehabilitation treatment and their spouses filled out questionnaires at pre-treatment (T0), start of treatment (T1), end of treatment (T2), and three months after treatment (T3). Primary outcome measure was psychological distress of the spouses (SCL-90-R). Secondary outcome measures were life satisfaction (Lisat-9), health-related quality of life (RAND-36), catastrophizing (PCS), selfefficacy (DGSES) and strain (CSI) of spouses. Results: The analysis included 39 couples. Mean scores (SD) of the spouses on the SCL-90-R at T0–T3 were 112 (SD 21), 119 (SD 27), 114 (SD 33) and 107 (SD 17), respectively (differences non-significant). The PCS scores of the spouses and their mean scores on the social domain of the RAND-36 improved significantly, as did the score for the physical domain of the RAND-36 before treatment and the DGSES score after treatment. No differences were found in the spouses’ scores on the CSI and most Lisat-9 or other domains of the RAND-36. The patients benefited from the treatment, with significant changes in scores on the SCL-90-R and most domains of the RAND-36. Conclusions: Spouses had favourable changes in their scores on social life and catastrophizing tendency. Our study also confirms that patients with non-specific chronic pain benefit from MRT