Health anxiety and depression in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

J Int Med Res. 2015 Oct;43(5):679-85. doi: 10.1177/0300060515587578. Epub 2015 Aug 6.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate health anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods: Patients with FMS and healthy control subjects were recruited. All participants completed the Health Anxiety Inventory Short Form (HAI-SF) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Pain was assessed in patients with FMS using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results: This study involved 95 patients with FMS (15 male) and 95 healthy controls (17 male). Mean ± SD HAI-SF and BDI scores were significantly higher in patients with FMS = than in controls=. HAI-SF scores were 23.50 ± 10.78 and 9.38 ± 4.24 respectively; BDI scores were 18.64 ± 10.11 and 6.21 ± 4.05 respectively. There were highly significant correlations between FIQ and HAI-SF, FIQ and BDI, and HAI-SF and BDI.

Conclusions: Patients with FMS had significantly higher HAI-SF and BDI scores than healthy controls. Psychiatric support is essential for patients with FMS. Treatment should include biological, psychological and social approaches.

Keywords: Health anxiety; chronic pain; depression; fibromyalgia syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / complications
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Demography
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Female
  • Fibromyalgia / complications
  • Fibromyalgia / psychology*
  • Health*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Syndrome