Dimensions of psychological dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia: development of an Italian questionnaire

Abstract

Our objective was to observe whether dysfunctional psychological dimensions of pain could be detected in fibromyalgia patients through the development of a new questionnaire. An original questionnaire composed of 51 items was given to 250 patients (185 females and 65 males, mean age 55+/-12.8 years) suffering from chronic fibromyalgia according to the criteria of the Multicenter Criteria Committee of the American College of Rheumatology. A Varimax computerized program of factorial analysis with orthogonal and oblique rotation of the axes was used to analyze the data. Five strong independent factors were identified: 1) catastrophizing and 2) external control beliefs (cognitive); 3) alexithymia (emotional); 4) restless behavior (behavioral); and 5) need for support (relational). Our questionnaire is a preliminary development of an Italian language psychological characterization of FM patients which may be a relevant and useful tool for the evaluation of the outcome of clinical/psychological treatment of FM.

A systematic review of dimensions evaluating patient experience in chronic illness

“…On the other hand, dimensions that were termed “ illness behaviour and coping ” dimensions assessed patients’ attitude about illness [72–74], patients’ cognition [75, 76], acceptance of chronic health condition [77] and patients’ attitudes of coping [78–81]. These two categories of dimensions seemed inextricably linked and in some questionnaires both patient’s feelings about the disease and capacity to overcome this difficult life event were explored simultaneously [82].…”

Evaluación de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con fibromialgia

“…Son numerosos los estudios que manifiestan el deterioro o discapacidad emocional presentada por los enfermos de FM (9,21,22) ; en nuestro estudio la media de las puntuaciones en las dimensiones al respecto de ambos cuestionarios no supera los 50 puntos, siendo el porcentaje de sujetos que superan los 50 puntos en el NHP o que no llegan a los 50 puntos en el SF-36 de 22,2% y 40% respectivamente.…”