Health anxiety and depression in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate health anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Methods: Patients with FMS and healthy control subjects were recruited. All participants completed the Health Anxiety Inventory Short Form (HAI-SF) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Pain was assessed in patients with FMS using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: This study involved 95 patients with FMS (15 male) and 95 healthy controls (17 male). Mean AE SD HAI-SF and BDI scores were significantly higher in patients with FMS ¼ than in controls¼. HAI-SF scores were 23.50 AE 10.78 and 9.38 AE 4.24 respectively; BDI scores were 18.64 AE 10.11 and 6.21 AE 4.05 respectively. There were highly significant correlations between FIQ and HAI-SF, FIQ and BDI, and HAI-SF and BDI. Conclusions: Patients with FMS had significantly higher HAI-SF and BDI scores than healthy controls. Psychiatric support is essential for patients with FMS. Treatment should include biological, psychological and social approaches.

Altered cerebral blood flow velocity features in fibromyalgia patients in resting-state conditions

“…More specifically, the FMS group had significantly higher levels of depressiveness and anxiety (state and trait) than the healthy population [1,47]. As expected, the FMS patients also showed significantly higher scores of pain intensity.…”

Attachment styles, pain intensity and emotional variables in women with fibromyalgia

“…Indeed, a number of studies have shown a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with fibromyalgia, in comparison with other chronic pain patients or healthy controls . Prevalence of emotional disorders is high, and depression has been reported in 20‐80% of cases whilst 13‐63.8% report anxiety.…”

Personality traits such as neuroticism and disability predict psychological distress in medically unexplained symptoms: A three‐year experience from a single centre

“…Our findings support prior research that have shown elevated rates of psychiatric disorders in people with MUS compared with those whose symptoms have a medical basis. Several studies, on patients with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and unexplained chest pain have demonstrated increased rates of lifetime and current major depression as well as panic disorder . It has been shown that MUS patients with co‐morbid anxiety and depression have higher rates of dissatisfaction with treatment and are more likely to be perceived as difficult to treat by the physician .…”

“…Several studies, on patients with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and unexplained chest pain have demonstrated increased rates of lifetime and current major depression as well as panic disorder. [28][29][30] It has been shown that MUS patients with co-morbid anxiety and depression have higher rates of dissatisfaction with treatment and are more likely to be perceived as difficult to treat by the physician. 31,32 Interestingly, Walker and colleagues 33 showed that women who met criteria for both chronic pelvic pain and irritable bowel syndrome had higher rates of psychological distress than those with chronic pelvic pain alone.…”