High rates of psychosomatic and neurotic symptoms among disability pensioners with musculoskeletal disorders

Objectives: To describe the occurrence of psychosomatic and neurotic symptoms among early retirees compared to a control group, and to establish the relative importance of different explanatory variables. Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed among 450 early retired pensioners [ERPs] with musculoskeletal disorders and an age-and sex-matched control group. The response rate was 83%. By way of a factor analysis five symptoms were formed into a psychosomatic index [PSI] and seven into a neurotic index [NI]. Results: The ERPs had a higher PSI and NI than controls. Immigrants among the ERPs and the controls reported more symptoms than Swedes. Women were found to have a higher PSI than men and the female ERPs had a higher NI than the male ERPs. The younger ERPs [< 55 years] reported more symptoms than the older ones. Among female ERPs the retirees with inflammatory rheumatic disorders had a lower NI, while those with fibromyalgia had a higher NI than the remaining female ERPs. Conclusions: This study points out the importance of considering psychological aspects when dealing with individuals suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Special attention should be paid to immigrants and individuals aged < 55 years when a disability pension is considered. The fibromyalgia patient might need increased therapeutic support.