Autoimmune rheumatic disease associated symptoms in fibromyalgia patients and their influence on anxiety, depression and somatisation: a comparative study

CER5447
2012 Vol.30, N°6 ,Suppl.74
PI 0065, PF 0069
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PMID: 23137613 [PubMed]

Received: 08/02/2012
Accepted : 26/09/2012
In Press: 14/12/2012
Published: 14/12/2012

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
In this study we evaluated the frequency of autoimmune rheumatic disease associated major symptoms in fibromyalgia (FM) patients, and the association between their presence and anxiety, depression and somatisation.
METHODS:
Two hundred and thirty-two FM, 78 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 70 healthy controls were included. All subjects were questioned face-to-face for the presence of autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated symptoms and antinuclear antibody (ANA) was determined. All FM patients were questioned for the severity of pain and symptoms of FM by using a visual analogue scale. In addition, all subjects were interrogated for anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms and neuropathic pain by using different validated questionnaires.
RESULTS:
FM patients had significantly higher frequency of photosensitivity (27.6% vs. 11.4%) and Raynaud phenomenon (22% vs. 10%) when compared to controls (p-values, 0.005 and 0.026). FM patients had significantly lower frequencies of photosensitivity, oral ulcers, xerostomia, and xerophthalmia than SLE patients (all p-values <0.001). ANA positivity was 11.8% in FM patients and 7.1% in healthy controls. ANA-positive and negative FM patients had similar frequencies of autoimmune rheumatic disease symptoms. FM patients with photosensitivity had higher anxiety (p=0.002), somatic symptoms (p=0.015) and neuropathic pain (p=0.03) scores than others. FM patients with Raynaud had higher anxiety (p=0.004), depression (p=0.001), somatic symptom (p<0.001) and neuropathic pain scores than others.
CONCLUSIONS:
The presence of which findings in FM seems to be associated with anxiety, depression, and somatization rather than ANA positivity and disease severity.