Persistent Physical Symptoms and Psychosomatic Profiling in Fibromyalgia: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Pain...

Area of Science:

• Pain Medicine
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain condition influenced by physical and psychological factors.
• The interplay between physical and emotional dimensions in fibromyalgia is not fully understood.
• Characterizing fibromyalgia requires tools that assess both physical and emotional aspects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate tools combining physical and emotional dimensions for characterizing fibromyalgia.
• To assess associations between fibromyalgia, persistent physical symptoms (PPS), and emotional distress.
• To explore the clinical utility of the Distress and Risk Assessment Method (DRAM) for psychosomatic risk profiling.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 1588 patients referred to a Pain Management Unit.
• Utilized the 2019 ACTTION-American Pain Society Pain Taxonomy criteria for fibromyalgia diagnosis.
• Collected data on sociodemographics, physical/psychological conditions (Central Sensitization Inventory Part B), pain (VAS), Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ), and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.
• Integrated MSPQ and Zung data using the Distress and Risk Assessment Method (DRAM).

Main Results:

• Women showed higher odds of fibromyalgia (p = 0.003) and specific PPS profiles (chronic fatigue).
• Fibromyalgia was significantly associated with PPS (p < 0.001), with distinct profiles in men (neck injury/whiplash).
• The MSPQ demonstrated high predictive value (OR highest among instruments), and DRAM categories differentiated fibromyalgia status (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Sex is associated with fibromyalgia and PPS profiles, which are also linked to fibromyalgia.
• The MSPQ is a highly informative instrument for assessing fibromyalgia characteristics.
• Integrating MSPQ and Zung data via DRAM offers potential for psychosomatic risk profiling in fibromyalgia.