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Adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fibromyalgia patients in Germany: a longitudinal investigation including pre-pandemic data of pain and health-related outcomes
B. Mosch1, V. Hagena2, S. Herpertz3, M. Diers4
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. martin.diers@rub.de
CER16766
2023 Vol.41, N°6
PI 1301, PF 1309
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PMID: 37378488 [PubMed]
Received: 21/04/2023
Accepted : 29/05/2023
In Press: 28/06/2023
Published: 28/06/2023
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the associated restrictions and changes, has had a far-reaching impact on the mental health and well-being of people around the world. The most serious impact can arguably be observed in vulnerable populations, such as chronic pain patients. Using a pre-test/post-test design with pre-pandemic comparative data, the present study sought to investigate how the pandemic impacted chronic pain and well-being in individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) (N = 109).
METHODS:
We assessed longitudinal changes of various clinical parameters, such as pain severity, disability, FM impact, depressive mood and several items assessing the individual experience of the pandemic as well as self-perceived changes of pain, anxiety, depression and physical activity levels.
RESULTS:
Results suggested a significant self-perceived worsening of pain, depressive mood, anxiety as well as reduced physical activity due to the pandemic. Interestingly, these self-perceived changes were not reflected in longitudinal increases of test values (T1-T2). Pain severity at T1 was the strongest predictor of pain severity at T2, while COVID-related outcomes showed no critical importance, with COVID-related fear being the only significant predictor of T2 pain. The general perceived negative impact of the pandemic was the only predictor of self-perceived worsening of pain. Finally, patients with less severe pre-pandemic pain symptoms displayed greater longitudinal worsening of pain.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings emphasise the importance of addressing the specific needs of chronic pain suffers during a pandemic.
