Rheuma-Kontroll-Skala (RKS) - a German version of the 'Rheumatology Attitudes Index'

A German version of the 'Rheumatology Attitudes Index' the 'Rheuma-Kontroll -Skala' (RKS) - to assess perceived control in rheumatic disease is present ed, and first norms are reported. Factor analyses yielded one factor with 7 items measuring the control of il lness and pain in rheumatic patients (n = 74 fibromyalgia, n = 160 rheumato id arthritis, n = 110 Bechterew's disease). The RKS is an economic, objecti ve, and reliable scale of perceived control in rheumatic diseases according to the 'learned helplessness model'. Results in favor of construct validity are reported. Significant difference s were found between patients with high compared to patients with low RKS s cores concerning depression and anxiety in the expected direction. High con trol was combined with lower pain, more cognitive-reappraising and active c oping and lower passive-resignative coping. Perceived control explained a g reater proportion of variance of impairment in rheumatoid arthritis than me dical illness parameters and duration of illness. Furthermore, perceived co ntrol can be modified through cognitive-behavioral therapy.