[Patients with fibromyalgia: gender differences]

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate how sex differences affect psychological measures and coping with pain of patients with fibromyalgia. Gender differences in pain coping strategies would require different gender-specific interventions.

Methods: Men with fibromyalgia were matched to women with fibromyalgia. Data were collected using the German pain questionnaire (DSF), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) and the questionnaire for assessment of level of coping with pain (FESV). Multivariate variance models were used for data analysis.

Results and conclusions: No gender differences were found in pain measures. Differences were found regarding psychological measures and coping strategies. Women showed more psychological strains and used more adaptive coping strategies on the scales "cognitive restructuring", "perceived self-competence", "mental diversion" and "counterbalancing activities" than men. This implies that women need more treatment for psychological aspects and men need assistance in pain management.