Catastrophizing and rumination mediate the link between functional disabilities and anxiety/depression in fibromyalgia. A double-mediation model

Abstract

Fibromyalgia can be considered to be a model of chronic pain resulting from dysregulation of pain processing. From a psychological point of view, it is possible to consider transdiagnostic processes that would participate in both the dysregulation of pain and associated emotions. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to test the links that exist between the tendency to Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) and the anxious-depressive manifestations in fibromyalgia. More specifically, we wanted to test a double mediation model where RNT would mediate the link between pain and depression/anxiety via catastrophizing. MethodEighty-two patients with fibromyalgia completed a series of questionnaires evaluating their level of depression, anxiety, disability related to pain, catastrophizing as well as various measures of Repetitive Thoughts. ResultsThe results showed strong correlations between RNT levels, pain, and anxious-depressive manifestations in this population. Moreover, the links between pain and depression/anxiety were mediated by catastrophizing and RNT in serial. ConclusionResults support the interest of studying RNT as a transdiagnostic process in fibromyalgia pain. Considering RNT in fibromyalgia allows a better understanding of tthe links that exist between pain and emotional disorders in this population and thus to better understand the psychopathological comorbidity of fibromyalgia.