| Single blinded randomised clinical trial. Pain Exposure Physical Therapy is a treatment which is an innovation in care for patients with CRPS. The treatment has been evaluated in retrospective as well as in prospective studies and has proven to be safe. The first aim of this study is to establish scientifically that PEPT is sufficiently effective for patients with CRPS-1 in a phase III study. PEPT will be compared to the usual care that is provided in CRPS-patients in the Netherlands. The second aim is to prove that PEPT is more effective in rehabilitation and the third aim is to prove that PEPT is more cost efficient than the usual care. The fourth aim is to establish what role motivation plays in rehabilitation. Patients are randomized and receive PEPT or usual care. If they have a strong preference for a treatment, they receive the treatment of their choice. This way four groups arise, which can be compared. At four different points in time pain with 3 months interval periods starting from baseline measurement function, activities, quality of life and medical costs are measured and compared within the four groups. |
