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Disability evaluation of fibromyalgia.

C V Wolfe1

  • 1Ohio State University and Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America
|August 2, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Patients with fibromyalgia often experience chronic symptoms and high healthcare utilization. The concept of disability in fibromyalgia is complex, involving social and judicial factors beyond objective clinical findings.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Sociology
  • Psychiatry
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and fatigue.
  • Patients labeled with fibromyalgia often report severe impairment and distress.
  • These patients exhibit high healthcare utilization, including frequent consultations and procedures.

Observation:

  • Fibromyalgia symptoms can be chronic and refractory, exceeding those in medically ill patients.
  • Patients frequently seek care from multiple providers, often switching physicians.
  • There is a noted rejection of psychosocial factors as contributors to their symptoms.

Findings:

  • The "disability" associated with fibromyalgia is viewed as a social construct, determined by societal and judicial systems.
  • Historical perspectives suggest fibromyalgia may serve as a diagnostic label for pain patients with neurotic components.
  • Cultural factors encourage the conceptualization of vague symptoms as disease, leading to specialist-seeking behaviors.

Implications:

  • Physicians should focus on reporting objective clinical information without making judgments on patient veracity.
  • Understanding fibromyalgia requires considering the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.
  • The definition and assessment of disability in chronic pain conditions necessitate a multidisciplinary approach.

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