Abstract
BackgroundFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic rheumatologic disease characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other psychopathological symptoms which have a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. FMS is frequently associated with alexithymia, a multidimensional construct characterized by difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) and verbally communicating them difficulty describing feelings (DDF) and an externally oriented cognitive thinking style (EOT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, anxious and depressive symptoms and pain perception, in patients with FMS and other rheumatic diseases (RD).MethodsThe sample consisted of 127 participants (M = 25, F = 102; mean age: 51.97; SD: 11.14), of which 48 with FMS, 41 with RD and 38 healthy control group (HC). All groups underwent to a test battery investigating anxiety and depressive symptoms (HADS), pain (VAS; QUID-S/-A) and alexithymia (TAS-20).ResultsA high prevalence of alexithymia (TAS ≥ 61) was found in FMS (47.9%) and RD (41.5%) patients, compared to the HC group (2.6%). FMS patients showed significant higher scores than HC on DIF, DDF, EOT, anxiety and depression. The clinical sample, FMS and RD groups combined (n = 89), alexithymic patients (AL, n = 40) exhibited higher scores in pain and psychological distress compared to non-alexithymic patients (N-AL, n = 34). Regression analysis found no relationship between alexithymia and pain in AL, meanwhile pain intensity was predicted by anxiety in N-AL.ConclusionWhile increasing clinical symptoms (pain intensity and experience, alexithymia, anxiety, and depression) in patients with fibromyalgia or rheumatic diseases, correlations were found on the one side, between alexithymia and psychological distress, on the other side, between pain experience and intensity. Meanwhile, when symptoms of psychological distress and alexithymia were subthreshold, correlations with pain experience and intensity became stronger.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness of the muscles, stiffness and extra-articular symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, sleep disorders depression and functional impairment of daily living activities (Gerdle et al, 2008; Jahan et al, 2012)
TAS ≥ 61 was found in FMS (47.9%) and rheumatic diseases (RD) (41.5%) patients, compared to the healthy control group (HC) group (2.6%)
Patients in the FMS group showed significant higher scores than HC on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used (HADS)-A (p < 0.0001) and HADS-D (p < 0.0001), in the same way as RD patients did compared to HC (HADS-A, p < 0.0001; HADS-D, p < 0.0001)
Summary
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness of the muscles, stiffness and extra-articular symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, sleep disorders depression and functional impairment of daily living activities (Gerdle et al, 2008; Jahan et al, 2012). These factors may negatively influence the quality of life of the individuals affected. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic rheumatologic disease characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other psychopathological symptoms which have a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, anxious and depressive symptoms and pain perception, in patients with FMS and other rheumatic diseases (RD)
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