Psychological control is a key modulator of fibromyalgia symptoms and comorbidities

Malin, Katrina; Littlejohn, Geoffrey

doi:10.2147/jpr.s37056

Cited by 13 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 28 publications

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“…The PSS reflects dynamic changes in stress ( 40 ). In general, individuals with fibromyalgia score higher on the PSS and reductions in PSS score are associated with an improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms and impact ( 21 , 40 , 41 ). This is consistent with the high baseline PSS score and reduction in PSS score that was observed in the study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress-associated weight gain, fibromyalgia symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and human growth hormone suppression respond to an amino acid supplement blend: Results of a prospective, cohort study

Pekarovics

Beres²,

Kelly³

et al. 2023

Front. Endocrinol.

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IntroductionAn orally administered amino acid-based test supplement was recently shown to increase human growth hormone (hGH) in healthy adults. This prospective, observational, single-center, single-arm cohort study investigated the effects of 24 weeks of daily oral administration of the test supplement in individuals with stress-related weight gain, fibromyalgia (FM) and stress-related low-normal hGH production (15-30th percentile for age-appropriate levels) on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), an indicator of hGH levels caused by stress related stimulation of somatostatin.MethodsParticipants continued to receive standard care. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to endpoint (Week 24) in serum IGF-1. Additional endpoints included the change in body weight, clinical symptoms (assessed with the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [FIQR], range 0-100, and Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], range 0-40), fasting cardiometabolic markers, tolerability, and safety. The study enrolled 84 fibromyalgia patients with low-normal age-adjusted IGF-1 serum levels. High mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) baseline FIQR and PSS scores of 76 ± 16 and 32 ± 5, respectively, indicated poor to moderate symptom management with standard care. All individuals completed 24 weeks.ResultsSerum IGF-1 levels increased with a Week 24 mean± Standard Error (SE) change of 28.4 ± 3.0 ng/mL (p<0.001). Body weight was reduced with a Week 24 mean ± SE change of -5.5 ± 0.3 kg (p<0.001) (a 6.5% weight loss from baseline). The change from baseline in FIQR and PSS scores were -29.1 ± 1.1 and -20.0 ± 0.8, respectively (both p<0.001), indicating a substantial improvement. Statistically significant improvements from baseline to Week 24 were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (all p<0.001). The supplement was well tolerated; no adverse events were reported.DiscussionSustained augmentation of IGF-1 with the test supplement may represent a novel method of improving clinical symptoms, including stress-related weight gain, in individuals with fibromyalgia and stress-associated low-normal hGH.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress-associated weight gain, fibromyalgia symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and human growth hormone suppression respond to an amino acid supplement blend: Results of a prospective, cohort study

Pekarovics

Beres²,

Kelly³

et al. 2023

Front. Endocrinol.

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Psychological factors mediate key symptoms of fibromyalgia through their influence on stress

Malin

Littlejohn

2016

Clin Rheumatol

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The clinical features of fibromyalgia are associated with various psychological factors, including stress. We examined the hypothesis that the path that psychological factors follow in influencing fibromyalgia symptoms is through their direct effect on stress. Ninety-eight females with ACR 1990 classified fibromyalgia completed the following questionnaires: The Big 5 Personality Inventory, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Profile of Mood States, Mastery Scale, and Perceived Control of Internal States Scale. SPSS (PASW version 22) was used to perform basic t tests, means, and standard deviations to show difference between symptom characteristics. Pathway analysis using structural equation modelling (Laavan) examined the effect of stress on the relationships between psychological factors and the elements that define the fibromyalgia phenotype. The preferred model showed that the identified path clearly linked the psychological variables of anxiety, neuroticism and mastery, but not internal control, to the three key elements of fibromyalgia, namely pain, fatigue and sleep (p < 0.001), via the person's perceived stress. Confusion, however, did not fit the preferred model. This study confirms that stress is a necessary link in the pathway between certain identified, established and significant psychological factors and key fibromyalgia symptoms. This has implications for the understanding of contributing mechanisms and the clinical care of patients with fibromyalgia.

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Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review

Borchers

Gershwin

2015

Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol

210

188

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Fibromyalgia is a disorder that is part of a spectrum of syndromes that lack precise classification. It is often considered as part of the global overview of functional somatic syndromes that are otherwise medically unexplained or part of a somatization disorder. Patients with fibromyalgia share symptoms with other functional somatic problems, including issues of myalgias, arthralgias, fatigue and sleep disturbances. Indeed, there is often diagnostic and classification overlap for the case definitions of a variety of somatization disorders. Fibromyalgia, however, is a critically important syndrome for physicians and scientists to be aware of. Patients should be taken very seriously and provided optimal care. Although inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune disorders have all been ascribed to be etiological events in the development of fibromyalgia, there is very little data to support such a thesis. Many of these disorders are associated with depression and anxiety and may even be part of what has been sometimes called affected spectrum disorders. There is no evidence that physical trauma, i.e., automobile accidents, is associated with the development or exacerbation of fibromyalgia. Treatment should be placed on education, patient support, physical therapy, nutrition, and exercise, including the use of drugs that are approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Treatment should not include opiates and patients should not become poly pharmacies in which the treatment itself can lead to significant morbidities. Patients with fibromyalgia are living and not dying of this disorder and positive outlooks and family support are key elements in the management of patients.

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Psychological control is a key modulator of fibromyalgia symptoms and comorbidities

Cited by 13 publications

References 28 publications

Stress-associated weight gain, fibromyalgia symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and human growth hormone suppression respond to an amino acid supplement blend: Results of a prospective, cohort study

Stress-associated weight gain, fibromyalgia symptoms, cardiometabolic markers, and human growth hormone suppression respond to an amino acid supplement blend: Results of a prospective, cohort study

Psychological factors mediate key symptoms of fibromyalgia through their influence on stress

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review

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