DIFFERENCES IN FAMILY FUNCTIONING BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEADACHE AND PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW-BACK-PAIN

The family climate in 36 families, comprising 154 individuals, was inv estigated. The objective of this study was to compare families where t he mother suffered from chronic headache to families with pain-free mo thers and to those where the mother suffered from chronic low back pai n. The Family Environment Scale (FES) was used to evaluate the family climate in these 3 groups as perceived by the members of the family. T he results in sufficiently standardized groups show a significantly re duced intra-family openness (P < 0.0001) in families where the mother suffered from chronic headache. Both pain groups were less active in t heir leisure time than the pain-free families. Based on the findings o f the present study, the impact of the psychosocial environment as a n ovel normative value for chronic pain syndromes is discussed in relati on to the need for further research and treatment modalities.