Unique clinical and psychological correlates of fibromyalgia tender points and joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective. We investigated the relationship of fibromyalgia (FM) tender points to other manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods. Sixty-seven RA patients completed questionnaires at study entry and described symptoms, emotionally significant events, and mood every evening for 75 days. Joint and tender point examinations were conducted every 2 weeks.Results. Controlling for joint tenderness, the tender point count correlated with the degree of daily stress. Depression was not significantly related when daily stress was controlled for.Conclusion. We conclude that FM tender point counts correlate uniquely with RA patients' reports of daily stress.Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of widespread pain combined with unusual tenderness in multiple specific nonarticular tender point sites (1). Although FM is sometimes associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the clinical and psychological implications of concomitant FM and RA are unclear. RA and FM are different entities, but they share many clinical signs and symptoms. Patients also identify common modulating factors in FM and RA, including stress (2,3). To assess the unique correlates of concomitant FM, we studied tender point counts in bi-

Perfil de humor de mulheres com fibromialgia

“…Urrows et al 24 investigaram a relação entre os tender points (pontos sensíveis à dor) e outras manifestações da FM e observaram uma correlação significativa do número de tender points com a depressão, estresse diário, dor e qualidade do sono. Os autores destacam ainda que alguns dos sintomas referidos pelas pacientes com FM, como o cansaço e o desânimo, estejam mais relacionados ao estresse do que à depressão.…”

Depressed fibromyalgia patients are equipped with an emphatic competence dependent self-esteem

“…Furthermore, FM tender point counts has been shown to correlate with daily stress also in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (14).…”

Recognize Comorbid Fibromyalgia Syndrome in Order to Better Evaluate Selected Rheumatic Diseases

“…Even when joint counts are included in the evaluation, mistakes can be made. Diffuse pain is by definition nonarticular, but can also include the joints [25][26][27], manifesting as a higher TJC. Comorbid FMS is also associated with increased duration and severity of morning stiffness, lower values for function measured as the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and the physical components of the SF-36 as well as diminished quality of life measured by the mental components of the same instrument [28,29].…”