Krankheitsrepräsentationen bei nicht-kardialem Brustschmerz – eine verhaltensmedizinische Kurzintervention

Illness Perceptions in Noncardiac Chest Pain – A Brief Psychological Intervention Background: Noncardiac chest pain is a frequent condition that is likely to develop a chronic course. Simply reassuring patients about nonpathological diagnostic test results has proved to be insufficient to effectively reduce dysfunctional illness representations and worry. The aim of the study was to develop a brief psychological intervention focussing on subjective illness representations and to evaluate its practicability. Patients and Methods: 57 patients with noncardiac chest pain participated. Illness representations and chest pain characteristics as well as the participants’ subjective evaluation of the intervention were assessed. Results: Subjective ratings by the participants were mostly positive, but of all patients eligible for the intervention 42% declined to participate. In comparison to the refusers, the intervention participants were younger and reported stronger dysfunctional illness representations and higher pain intensity. Conclusion: It remains a challenge to affect patients with noncardiac chest pain with early psychological interventions, in particular patients who feel only mildly impaired. Nevertheless, our results show that a low-threshold intervention is applicable and is mainly seen as effective. Schlüsselwörter Nicht-kardialer Brustschmerz · Subjektive Krankheitsrepräsentationen · Intervention · Verhaltensmedizin