AN EMPIRICAL-INVESTIGATION OF THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL DISEASE CONSEQUENCEMODEL - PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT, DISABILITY AND HANDICAP IN CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

The purpose of this study is to emphasize the meaningfulness of a glob al, functional rather than a narrow medical view in the efficacy evalu ation of chronic pain treatment. Therefore, the 'Biopsychosocial Disea se Consequence (BPSDC) model' to assess function more globally than be fore, is presented in this article. The model is based on two theories : (1) the biopsychosocial approach and (2) WHO's classification of imp airments, disabilities and handicaps. In addition to the presentation of the conceptual model, the development of the hypothetical criteria and assessment models for psychological impairments, disabilities and handicaps, and the validity testing of the psychological assessment ax is are described. Within each of the three classes, i.e. psychological impairments, disabilities and handicaps, the results supported the in dependence of the hypothetical criteria from each other. On the other hand, results suggested that some changes to the hypothetical assessme nt models for some of the criteria might be valuable. It was concluded that although the most adequate psychological assessment models for f unction, found in this study, can be considered as robust and recommen dable as one set of tools for functional assessment, the main aim of t his article is to encourage multidisciplinary team efforts to develop and systematize the assessment procedures of function in patients suff ering from chronic diseases.