Fibromyalgia characterization in a psychosocial approach

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize a group of women diagnosed with fibromyalgia, evaluating the relationship between personality and psychopathology, health status (disability, physical health, mental health, and pain), and potentially traumatic life events (PTLE) before the onset of the syndrome. The disability caused by fibromyalgia, physical and mental health status, pain, PTLE in childhood and in the course of life, and personality were assessed in a sample of 50 women with fibromyalgia, age 25-70 years (M = 46.96; SD = 10.96). A multiple correspondence analysis with all the variables identified two types of profiles and a K-Means cluster analysis confirmed two groups of patients: cluster 1 (n = 36), with better health and less psychopathological problems, named "Better adjustment" and cluster 2 (n = 14), with less health and more personality problems, named "Disorder and disability." Pertaining to personality only, a K-Means cluster analysis replicated the three classic personality profiles (normal, neurotic, and psychopathological) identified in chronic pain patients; and the normal profile was the more prevalent (n = 22). The results enhance the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity of fibromyalgia population and the great closeness between personality and physical health, with the PTLE having a less important role than expected.

Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness Characterize Fibromyalgic Patients and the Symptom Severity

“…Overall, the findings from the present study showed a particular personality for FM patients and suggested two different clusters in terms of both personality traits and clinical characteristics, as proposed by Gonzalez et al (2015) , confirming the importance of the personality assessment of FM patients ( Malin and Littlejohn, 2012 ).…”

Clinical and demographic characteristics and functional status of the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

“…Gonzalez et al investigated the association between personal dispositions, previous traumatic events, and psychopathologies and onset of FMS, and found that personal characteristics were very closely linked with FMS, and contrary to common assumptions, previous traumatic events did not exert a strong impact on the onset of the disease [25]. In our study, personal disposition of the women in their chldbearing age was associated with the onset of FMS.…”

Comparison of the Big Five personality traits in fibromyalgia and other rheumatic diseases

“…The personality of patients with FM is more pathological than that of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls [8,14,15]. Other studies have evaluated the personality of FM patients using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), revealing high scores on Self-Transcendence and Harm Avoidance and low scores on Self-Directedness [16,17].…”