The role of personality in patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract

Introduction: Previous studies suggest personality, the multifaceted characteristics underlying a person’s affect, cognition, and behavior, may influence fibromyalgia. We examined associations among personality, fibromyalgia impact, and health-related outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia. We further tested whether anxiety and depression mediated the effect of personality on fibromyalgia impact. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis using baseline data from a randomized trial on fibromyalgia. Personality was assessed using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory 3. Fibromyalgia impact was evaluated using the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). We also measured symptom severity, anxiety, depression, stress, quality of life, social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and mindfulness. Multivariable linear regression was performed to evaluate each association. Mediation analysis assessed whether anxiety and depression mediated the relationship between personality and FIQR. Results: There were 92 participants, 95% female, mean age 52 years, body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m2, 52% white, and mean duration of body pain 14 years. Higher neuroticism was significantly associated with higher FIQR (P = 0.002) and symptom severity (P = 0.008), as well as higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, worse mental component quality of life, and lower self-efficacy, mindfulness, and social support. Higher conscientiousness and extraversion were associated with better psychological health and health-related outcomes. The effect of neuroticism on fibromyalgia impact was mediated by anxiety and depression. Conclusions: Personality was associated with fibromyalgia impact and a variety of health outcomes. Identifying the factors that influence fibromyalgia will help us better understand the condition and provide insight for more effective treatment.

Personality And Mental Health: The Moderator Role Of Emotional Intelligence

“…Neuroticism positively correlated with stress, anxiety and depression. These results were also found by Vujičić and Ranđelović (2017) and Mostafaei et al (2019), and similar results were reported by other studies (Brailovskaia & Margraf, 2016;Ervasti et al, 2019;Gramstad et al, 2013;Milić et al, 2019;Mousavi & Essazadegan, 2016;Pereira-Morales et al, 2019;Seto et al, 2019;Sørengaard et al, 2019). In contrast, (A) negatively correlated with stress, anxiety and depression.…”

“…However, in the study by Vujičić and Ranđelović (2017) extraversion negatively influenced anxiety, and conscientiousness negatively predicts anxiety and depression. Morevover, the correlation between consciousness and depression was found previously by different studies (Seto et al, 2019;Vujičić & Ranđelović, 2017). Furthermore, extraversion was positively correlated with all three (stress, anxiety and depression) in the study by Brailovskaia and Margraf (2016) and Gramstad et al (2013) also found that extraversion protected against symptoms of depression.…”

“…Mental health is the result of a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors (e.g., personality) (Ogboghodo, Osadiaye, & Omosun-Fadal, 2018). Personality has an impact on mental health that we cannot ignore and has been studied in several studies (Brailovskaia & Margraf, 2016;Ervasti, Kallio, Määttänen, Mäntyjärvi, & Jokela, 2019;Gramstad, Gjestad, & Haver, 2013;Lyons, Evans, & Helle, 2019;MacIntyre et al, 2019;Milić, Škrlec, Milić Vranješ, Podgornjak, & Heffer, 2019;Mostafaei et al, 2019;Pereira-Morales, Adan, & Forero, 2019;Seto et al, 2019;Sørengaard et al, 2019). There may be personality traits that protect individuals against mental distress in the face of adversity (Lyons et al, 2019).…”

Comparing Verum and Sham Acupuncture in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Patients with FMS suffer not only from pain but also from a range of symptoms including cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and somatic and psychological distress [2–5]. Because there is currently no cure for it, management of FMS usually focuses on symptom relief [6]. In this context, a number of patients with FMS have increasingly taken interest in complementary and alternative medicine and have used one or more complementary and alternative therapies [7].…”

Contribution of Personality Traits, Psychological Factors, and Health-Related Quality of Life to Medication Adherence in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…This finding is consistent with those of previous studies. 11,27 Seto, et al 27 found that higher neuroticism was associated with anxiety, depression, stress, and worse mental quality of life in fibromyalgia patients. We demonstrated that lower openness to experience was associated with poor cognitive function.…”