• A-M Langenmaier, E Metje, B Klasen, T Brinkschmidt, M Karst, and V Amelung.
• Algesiologikum GmbH, Heßstr. 22, 80799, München, Deutschland. langenmaier@algesiologikum.de.
• Schmerz. 2018 Dec 1; 32 (6): 456-463.

BackgroundThe subjective state of health with respect to pain and psyche was surveyed utilizing validated pain questionnaires in patients undergoing special pain therapy and represents the basis for targeted treatment measures.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the possible distortion of answers due to social desirability of responses in chronic pain patients.Material And MethodsDuring two survey periods assessing patient satisfaction using both anonymized and personalized questionnaires, the effects arising from socially desirable response patterns were analyzed. The sample consisted of chronic pain patients being treated in an inpatient therapy setting.ResultsIn both periods of observation no significant impact on the response behavior of chronic pain patients was found in personalized or anonymized questionnaires.ConclusionThe results of the study suggest that the responses of chronic pain patients with respect to their subjective state of health are not influenced by social desirability. Thus, scoring systems such as the German pain questionnaire will not be influenced by social desirability in chronic pain patients and can therefore be used as a part of diagnostics and therapy planning.

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