The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ): a review of its development, current version, operating characteristics and uses

R. Bennett

ABSTRACT
The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was developed in the late 1980s by clinicians at Oregon Health & Science University in an attempt to capture the total spectrum of problems related to fibromyalgia and the responses to therapy. It was first published in 1991 and since that time has been extensively used as an index of therapeutic efficacy. Overall, it has been shown to have a credible construct validity, reliable test-retest characteristics and a good sensitivity in demonstrating therapeutic change. The original questionnaire was modified in 1997 and 2002, to reflect ongoing experience with the instrument and to clarify the scoring system. The latest version of the FIQ can be found at the web site of the Oregon Fibromyalgia Foundation (www.myalgia.com/FIQ/FIQ). The FIQ has now been translated into eight languages, and the translated versions have shown operating characteristics similar to the English version.

Key words
fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, FIQ, development, operating characteristics, current version.

Robert Bennett, MD, FRCP, FACP, Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine (OP09), Oregon Health and Science
University, Portland, OR 97329, USA.
E-mail: bennetrob1@comcast.net

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2005; 23 (suppl. 39): S154-S162.
© CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2005.