Psychological impact of fibromyalgia: current perspectives, 2019, Reyes Del Paso

[Andy]

Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread and persistent musculoskeletal pain and other frequent symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, morning stiffness, cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety. FMS is also accompanied by different comorbidities like irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Although some factors like negative events, stressful environments, or physical/emotional traumas may act as predisposing conditions, the etiology of FMS remains unknown. There is evidence of a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in FMS (especially depression, anxiety, borderline personality, obsessive-compulsive personality, and post-traumatic stress disorder), which are associated with a worse clinical profile. There is also evidence of high levels of negative affect, neuroticism, perfectionism, stress, anger, and alexithymia in FMS patients. High harm avoidance together with high self-transcendence, low cooperativeness, and low self-directedness have been reported as temperament and character features in FMS patients, respectively.

Additionally, FMS patients tend to have a negative self-image and body image perception, as well as low self-esteem and perceived self-efficacy. FMS reduces functioning in physical, psychological, and social spheres, and also has a negative impact on cognitive performance, personal relationships (including sexuality and parenting), work, and activities of daily life. In some cases, FMS patients show suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and consummated suicide. FMS patients perceive the illness as a stigmatized and invisible disorder, and this negative perception hinders their ability to adapt to the disease. Psychological interventions may constitute a beneficial complement to pharmacological treatments in order to improve clinical symptoms and reduce the impact of FMS on health-related quality of life.

Open access at https://www.dovepress.com/psycholog...spectives-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM

 

[Hutan]

I got to this point

There is evidence of a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in FMS (especially depression, anxiety, borderline personality, obsessive-compulsive personality, and post-traumatic stress disorder), which are associated with a worse clinical profile. There is also evidence of high levels of negative affect, neuroticism, perfectionism, stress, anger, and alexithymia in FMS patients. High harm avoidance together with high self-transcendence, low cooperativeness, and low self-directedness have been reported as temperament and character features in FMS patients, respectively.

and was thinking in a sarcastic way 'gosh, could they have thrown any more negative assessments of people with fibromyalgia in to this summary?'.

and then the abstract continued

Additionally, FMS patients tend to have a negative self-image and body image perception, as well as low self-esteem and perceived self-efficacy. FMS reduces functioning in physical, psychological, and social spheres, and also has a negative impact on cognitive performance, personal relationships (including sexuality and parenting), work, and activities of daily life. In some cases, FMS patients show suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and consummated suicide. FMS patients perceive the illness as a stigmatized and invisible disorder, and this negative perception hinders their ability to adapt to the disease.

So, despite what had already seemed a pretty exhaustive list, they could.

It would be interesting to go through the references given to support these statements to see if any are
1. credible; and
2. can't be accounted for as being the result of having a painful debilitating illness that many people regard as 'a whining over-reaction by neurotic perfectionists'.

 

[Hutan]

despite what had already seemed a pretty exhaustive list

there's more in the main body of the paper e.g. you don't have to go far to get these:

patients’ tendency toward catastrophizing,10avoidance, or inhibition of their emotions.32

Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, and the associated increase in body mass index (BMI), have been suggested as factors associated with FMS.33,34 Activity avoidance is associated with poorer function in individuals with chronic pain, and predicted poorer physical and psychological functioning and higher pain-related interference with daily life.35 Overactive patterns can also contribute in the long term to increased risk of pain exacerbation

'a whining over-reaction by neurotic perfectionists'.

make that a
...'a whining over-reaction by fat, lazy, and/or driven, neurotic perfectionists'

 

[oldtimer]

Just read the paper. What a hoot!!

 

[Peter T]

Isn't having the phrase "the psychological impact of fibromyalgia" in the title the very opposite of what the authors are doing in the article? Rather than looking at how their fibromyalgia impacts psychologically on the individual patient they seem to be asserting that a highly problematic psychology causes their fibromyalgia.

If that was the case why are they not devising a personality test that will with 100% accuracy predict in advance who will get fibromyalgia. Presumably they believe that there are specific personality traits that are necessary and sufficient for fibromyalgia, so they need also to demonstrate that there is no one with fibromyalgia that does not have these traits.

 

[Snowdrop]

I thought of you @rvallee

You're so right. This stuff is definitely on par with astrology (as you've posted elsewhere).

I predict that authors of papers like this have a self-doubt gene malfunction. Cause that's a real thing you know.

 

[DokaGirl]

OK - I haven't read this paper yet - but from all your comments and quotations, it sounds like the authors are name calling - sticks and stones type stuff - as in all pwFM are flaming blankety blanks! Other than swearing, it seems like they've thrown every derogatory psychological term at pwFM.

Are these authors venting?

And, yet shock and surprise, "FMS patients perceive the illness as stigmatized". If your physician, or PS practitioner calls you a flaming what's it, then I would say there is a "tad" of stigma going on there.

 

[shak8]

Interesting review of current trends in thinking and research about fibro. Useful bibliography. But I am not sado-maso.

Of course, it hurts my feelings to read about the emphasis on psychiatric illnesses but then, fibro can drive you mad (in so many ways: OCD, depression, bipolar). If there is some biological brain link, so be it.

It doesn't follow that everyone with (and what it is called now but widespread chronic pain (+ 20 other symptoms) has a mental illness.

 

[EnlightenMe]

Well if one has all the physical issues associated with Fibro including poor sleep, high anxiety and cortisol...
and no one understands you and the medical community is dismissive and friends and family don’t understand ...
and you lose your ability to work, socially he active, and keep up with friends, household duties etc ...

and take pride in your work and your finances are then dismal ...

Then what psychological state do they expect us to be in? I mean really.

Seems like they have the cart before the horse.