Cited by 45Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Pain characteristics in fibromyalgia: understanding the multiple dimensions of pain

Plazier, Mark, Ost, Jan, Stassijns, Gaëtane, De Ridder, Dirk, Vanneste, Sven·2015·Clinical Rheumatology

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a common disease with a high economic burden. The etiology of this disease remains unclear, as there are no specific abnormalities on clinical or technical examinations. Evidence suggests that central pain sensitization at the brain pain matrix might be involved. Understanding the pain characteristics of this disease is of importance both for diagnosis and treatment. The authors present their findings of pain characteristics in a Belgium population of fibromyalgia patients. Data of 65 patients (57 male and 8 female patients) were analyzed in this study (mean age 46.86, SD = +8.79). Patients filled out the following questionnaires: visual analogue scale, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, pain-catastrophizing scale, pain vigilance and awareness questionnaire, modified fatigue impact scale, the Beck depression inventory, the short form 36 and the Dutch shortened profile of mood states. Statistical analysis was performed making use of a factor analysis and a hierarchical cluster analysis. We were able to define pain characteristics in this group of patients. The reciprocal effects of mood and fatigue on pain experience could be identified within the data, catastrophizing scores show a high correlation with overall life quality and pain experience. We have performed a cluster analysis on the fibromyalgia patients, based on the four main principal components defining the overall disease burden. Mood explained most of the variance in symptoms, followed by mental health state, fatigue, and catastrophizing. Three clusters of patients could be revealed by these components. Clusters: 1 high scores on mood disorders, pain, and decreased mental health, 2 high scores on fatigue and physical health, and 3 a mixture of these two groups. This data suggest that different subgroups of fibromyalgia patients could be identified and based on that, treatment strategies and results might be adapted.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s10067-014-2736-6

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  • In people with chronic low back pain, musculoskeletal pain, and other chronic pain complaints, catastrophizing is associated with greater pain intensity, pain disability, and psychological distress, even after controlling for physical impairment.

    “For individuals with chronic low back pain, musculoskeletal pain, and other miscellaneous chronic pain complains, catastrophizing is associated with increased pain intensity, pain disability, and psychological distress, even when controlling for level of physical impairment 295, 296.”

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Authors
Plazier, M., Ost, J., Stassijns, G., De Ridder, D., & Vanneste, S.
Affiliations
  • Antwerp University Hospital (BE)
  • The University of Texas at Dallas (US)
Corresponding author
Plazier, Mark
Venue
Clinical Rheumatology
Published
2014-07-22
Volume
34
Issue
4
Pages
775-783
ISSN
  • 0770-3198 (ISSN-L)
  • 1434-9949
OpenAlex
W2009975712
Cited by
45
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2
FWCI
2.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Clinical Rheumatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords
fibromyalgia, pain characteristics, central sensitization, pain catastrophizing, fatigue, mood disorders, depression, quality of life, patient subgroups, disease burden, patient heterogeneity
MeSH terms
Adult, Affect, Aged, Awareness, Back Pain, Belgium, Depression, Female, Fibromyalgia, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Pain Measurement, Surveys and Questionnaires, Retrospective Studies, Cluster Analysis, Mood Disorders, Principal Component Analysis, Young Adult

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