Psychosocial Factors in Fibromyalgia Compared With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Despite the absence of organic pathology, the patients with fibromyalgia had equal or greater functional disability and were less well adapted to their illness. Although the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains unclear, co-morbid psychiatric disorders and functional disability remain an important focus of treatment in this population.

Traumatic events, perceived stress and health in women with fibromyalgia and healthy controls

“…The large difference in perceived stress provides strong support that FM is 'stress-related' with regard to the current perception and experience of stress. In addition, the larger effects sizes for child and adult abuse as compared with other traumatic events is consistent with past research regarding the importance of relationship abuse and interpersonal stress in FM (Davis et al, 2001;Walker et al, 1997;Zautra et al, 1999).…”

“…There is increasing evidence that the ongoing perception of stress may be related to health in women with FM (Murray, Murray, & Daniels, 2006;Van Houdenhove et al, 2002;Zautra, Hamilton, & Burke, 1999). In addition, women with FM may have experienced more traumatic events than healthy women or women with other rheumatological disorders (Van Houdenhove et al, 2001;Walker et al, 1997) These higher levels of traumatic events and perceptions of stress are important because they have consistently been linked to worse health and lower well-being. Traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents, sexual assault and natural disasters have been linked to increased anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (Breslau et al, 1998;Grant, Beck, Marques, Palyo, & Clapp, 2008;Smith & Freedy, 2000).…”

“…The most damaging forms of early traumatic events may be the physical, sexual or emotional abuse that sometimes occurs in childhood (Gibb, Chelminski, & Zimmerman, 2007;Walker et al, 1997). The effects of these kinds of child abuse may persist into adulthood and have lasting negative effects on mental and physical health (Gunstead et al, 2006;Vranceanu, Hobfoll, & Johnson, 2007).…”

“…Women with FM have reported higher levels of child abuse than women with other chronic pain conditions (Van Houdenhove et al, 2001;Walker et al, 1997). There is evidence suggesting that early trauma may be a predisposing factor for the development of pain and stress-related disorders (Glaser, Van Os, Portegijs, & Myin-Germeys, 2006;Walsh, Jamieson, Macmillan, & Boyle, 2007).…”

Primary attributions in women suffering fibromyalgia emphasize the perception of a disruptive onset for a long-lasting pain problem

“…Sexual abuse, violence, the threat or the witnessing of either, which have been mentioned in some of our respondents have also been described as causes of psychological trauma. Other authors found a high prevalence (> 30%) of sexual and physical abuse in women with FM and reported higher rates of abuse in these patients as compared with a group of women without FM [45][46][47]. However, still other authors questioned the association between sexual abuse and FM onset [48][49][50].…”