Quality of life in young fibromyalgia patients and effect of depression

Abstract

AbstractAim: The purpose of this study was to compare the depression and quality of life (QOL) scores of fibromyalgia (FM) patients and control subjects. We also aimed to detect relationships between different QOL scales, depression and clinical symptoms.Method: Ninety‐eight fibromyalgia patients and 48 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Depression was evaluated by a psychiatrist according to the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Edition 4 (DSM‐IV) criteria. QOL of the FM patients was assessed according to the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).Results: We found significantly higher scores of depression, NHP, FIQ and HAQ in FM patients compared with controls (P < 0.000). Pain, tender point count (TPC), pain intensity, skinfold tenderness, FIQ, HAQ, and NHP scores were higher in patients with depression than in those without depression. Depression scores correlated with FIQ (r = 0.39, P < 0.01), HAQ (r = 0.35, P < 0.01), NHP (r = 0.55, P < 0.01) scores, TPC (r = 0.34, P < 0.01) and duration of disease (r = 0.21, P < 0.05). Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores correlated with HAQ scores (r = 0.45, P < 0.01), NHP scores (r = 0.49, P < 0.01) and TPC (r = 0.21, P < 0.05). HAQ scores correlated with NHP scores (r = 0.40, P < 0.01) and TPC (r = 0.29, P < 0.05). Nottingham Health Profile scores correlated with TPC (r = 0.43, P < 0.01) and duration of disease (r = 0.22, P < 0.05).Conclusion: We found higher scores of TPC, pain intensity, skinfold tenderness, NHP, FIQ, and HAQ in depressive FM patients as compared with non‐depressive FM patients. Our study indicates that there is an important relationship between pain, depression and QOL scales in young FM patients. Therefore; these patients should be managed using a multidisciplinary approach including psychiatric support.