Personality Traits in Fibromyalgia: Aggravators and Attenuators of Clinical Symptoms and Medication Use

Introduction: Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) exhibit higher levels of neuroticism and psychoticism and lower levels of extraversion, which may influence medication use. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze associations between personality traits (from Eysenck's model) and medication use in patients with FMS and to explore factors mediating/moderating these relations. Method: Data on personality, medication use, and clinical severity were collected from 94 FMS patients and 56 individuals from a nonclinical population. Results: Patients had higher neuroticism and psychoticism compared to participants from the nonclinical population, with no significant differences observed in extraversion. Neuroticism was positively associated with the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics, as well as with higher levels of anxiety and depression. In contrast, extraversion was negatively associated with the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and opioids and with lower anxiety, depression, and the emotional and cognitive dimensions of pain and a reduced prevalence of comorbid emotional disorders. Psychoticism was positively associated with the sensorial, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of pain. Depression and anxiety levels mediated the relationships between neuroticism and extraversion and the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics. Additionally, comorbid depressive disorders moderated the association between neuroticism and antidepressant use. Conclusion: Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion primarily increase the likelihood of using mood-regulating medications, but not analgesic drugs. Implementing coping strategies aimed at reducing neuroticism and enhancing extraversion may help to reduce medication use in patients with FMS.