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Posttraumatic stress disorder, tenderness and fibromyalgia
1Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Mamir@Bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Fibromyalgia syndrome is prevalent in 21% of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who also experience increased tenderness and psychological distress compared to those without fibromyalgia.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Rheumatology
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with various somatic symptoms.
- Diffuse pain and tenderness are frequently reported in PTSD patients, but their underlying cause is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in PTSD patients.
- To compare FMS symptoms, quality of life, and functional impairment between PTSD patients with and without FMS.
- To assess tenderness and psychological distress in relation to FMS in PTSD.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis of FMS based on American College of Rheumatology criteria.
- Assessment of tenderness using manual palpation and a dolorimeter.
- Evaluation of FMS symptoms, quality of life, functional status, PTSD, and psychiatric features using validated self-report inventories.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of FMS was 21% in PTSD patients, compared to 0% in controls.
- PTSD patients exhibited significantly higher tenderness than control subjects.
- PTSD patients with FMS reported greater tenderness, pain, lower quality of life, higher functional impairment, and more psychological distress than PTSD patients without FMS.
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia syndrome is common in PTSD patients and is associated with increased symptom burden.
- Undiagnosed fibromyalgia syndrome may contribute to reported diffuse pain in PTSD.
- A strong link exists between psychological stress and the development of pain syndromes like FMS.