Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Long-term Pain in Rheumatic Disease, Including Validation of AE-FS

Catastrophic thinking is a risk factor for a poor prognosis for pain in general and rheumatic disease in particular, which for many contributes to a behavioral pattern characterized by avoidance. Other people with long-term pain, on the other hand, have a pattern where they suppress thoughts and feelings of fear associated with pain, and push themselves to carry out activities. An inappropriate form of endurance can help maintain and intensify pain. The AE-FS is a short version of the Avoidance-Endurance Questionnaire with different subscales for maintaining activity despite pain. AE-FS can be of great clinical utility. The study of patients with rheumatic disease and long-term pain will validate a Norwegian version of the AE-FS as well as examine how the AE-FS seen in connection with other relevant questionnaires, including the Pain Catastrophizing Scale , reflects mechanisms for change in cognitive behavioral therapy for long-term pain. The effect of the intervention is evaluated with questionnaires at baseline/start of treatment, end of treatment, two months after end of treatment and after six months.