[The complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) as differentiation from psychogenic disturbances]

In the course of recent years, after the conception of dystrophic disturbances of the extremities had been reassessed, the CRPS has been making increasing demands on medical treatment and assessment in all insurance classes. There is common agreement that the syndrome can also be triggered by minor trauma. A decisive factor for the expert opinion is first of all the presentation of definite proof that there is actually a dystrophic disturbance present on the affected extremities. The patients concerned frequently suffer from a co-morbidity with accompanying psychological disturbances. For a lot of patients, primary organic effects caused by the injury can be excluded, whereas psychogenically determined symptoms can be found. This leads to significant consequences for the medical assessment under the insurance aspect in the individual case. The differential diagnosis may turn out to be difficult and in individual cases will require the use of the entire available technical diagnostics equipment and the involvement of psychological expert opinions.