Psychological aspect of primary fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract EN

This study was designed to identify the presence of psychological disturbances in fibromyalgia patients and to explore the relationship between stress and other psychological disorders in fibromyalgia patients.

Thirty female patients with Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (PFS) and thirty matched normal female controls (NC), were assessed by using four psychological questionnaires, using the Arabic Versions of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAT), the Stress Scale and the Whitly Index (WI) Hypochondriasis Scale.

Results showed that patients with fibromyalgia were significantly higher in their psychological profiles.

This indicates that those patients were psychologically more disturbed than the normal controls and they suffer from neurotic traits such as: anxiety, depression and hypochondriasis symptoms.

Results also revealed a significant relationship between stress and depression and between stress , and anxiety symptoms among fibromyalgia patients.