Evaluation of personality profile in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and healthy controls

Abstract

Objectives: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is associated with widespread musculoskeletal pain disorder characterized by various symptoms. Our aim was to compare the personality profiles and psychological aspects between FMS patients and control subjects. Additionally, we evaluated the FMS symptoms, pain and functional status. A total of 72 female patients with FMS and 64 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included.

Methods: Visual Analog Scale (VAS), to assess pain and sleep quality, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), to evaluate the functional status, were used in both groups. We assessed the psychological status with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the personality profiles were evaluated with Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).

Results: Total BDI and BAI scores of FMS patients were higher than control subjects (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). In terms of psychopathology, hysteria parameters of MMPI were significantly higher in FMS. MMPI parameters except lie, infrequency, masculinity femininity and hypomania parameters (p > 0.05) were significantly higher in FMS group than the control group.

Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that there is a relationship between the psychological state and personality characteristics in FMS. Much more research is needed to better define the role of personality characteristics in the pathogenesis and symptoms of FMS.

Keywords: Depression; Fibromyalgia syndrome; Personality profile.