DSM-5 PTSD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Spectrum in patients with fibromyalgia: Possible correlations with subthreshold autism spectrum?

Abstract

IntroductionPTSD is extremely common in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) with rates up to 57%, and it often correlates with increased severity of the disease.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the presence of PTSD, diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria, and of Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum symptoms in a sample of patients with FM.MethodsSixty-one patients, 7 males and 54 females, with FM, diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) at the Unit of Rheumatology of A.O.U.P clinics, were assessed by: SCID-5; Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR); Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum).ResultsPatients with FM with full and partial PTSD reported a significantly higher number of losses and potentially traumatic events in the TALS-SR than patients without PTSD. Significantly, higher AdAS Spectrum scores in almost all domains were reported in patients with PTSD with respect to those with partial or without PTSD. Moderate to good correlations were highlighted amongst most of the TALS-SR and ADAS-Spectrum domains.ConclusionsSignificant DSM-5 PTSD rates emerged in our sample of patients with FM. Significant correlations were found between Adult Subthreshold Autism Spectrum and Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum, corroborating recent hypotheses that indicate autism spectrum symptoms as vulnerability factors for PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.