A combination of illness invalidation from the work environment and helplessness is associated with embitterment in patients with FM
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study in employed people with FM was to test the hypothesis that embitterment is a function of the joint experience of invalidation from the work environment and helplessness regarding one's illness. METHODS: Sixty-four full-time (36%) or part-time (64%) employed patients with FM (60 females, mean age 45 years) completed the Illness Invalidation Inventory (3*I) to assess work-related discounting and lack of understanding, the Illness Cognition Questionnaire (ICQ) to assess helplessness and the Bern Embitterment Inventory (BEI) to assess embitterment. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of the participants experienced embitterment levels in the clinical range. The interaction or combination of discounting and helplessness (P = 0.02) and the combination of lack of understanding and helplessness (P = 0.04) were associated with greater embitterment. CONCLUSIONS: The construct of embitterment has substantial face validity and may result from a combination of invalidation and helplessness. Whereas helplessness is a common target of cognitive-behavioural therapy, evidence-based interventions to redress invalidation and embitterment are needed. It is possible, however, to target invalidation by educating people in the work environment about the consequences of FM and patients' valid needs for work that is manageable, given each patient's specific health-related limitations.
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Blom et al.'s questionnaire study revealed that 16% of patients met the criteria of clinical embitterment, as assessed by the Bern Embitterment Inventory.
“Their questionnaire study revealed that 16% of patients met the criteria of clinical embitterment, as assessed by the Bern Embitterment Inventory”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as Blom et al.108
Clinical embitterment in fibromyalgia patients was associated with a sense of helplessness with regards to their fibromyalgia symptoms and invalidation of their experience in the workplace.
“and was associated with the sense of helplessness with regards to their fibromyalgia symptoms and invalidation of their experience in the workplace.”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as Blom et al.108
A common theme among studies examining fibromyalgia and employment included patients encountering stigma from health care professionals.
“A common theme among studies examining fibromyalgia and employment included patients encountering stigma from health care professionals.108”
From Does work have to be so painful? A review of the literature examining the effects of fibromyalgia on the working experience from the patient perspective (2020) · cites this paper as [108]
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- Authors
- Blom, D., Thomaes, S., Kool, M. B., van Middendorp, H., Lumley, M. A., Bijlsma, J. W. J., & Geenen, R.
- Affiliations
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Venue
- Rheumatology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2011-11-16
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 347-353
- ISSN
- 1462-0324 (ISSN-L)
- 1462-0332
- OpenAlex
- W2111820605
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Lara D. Veeken (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Keywords
- fibromyalgia, embitterment, work environment, helplessness, lack of understanding, employed patients, cognitive behavioral therapy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Mental Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Female, Fibromyalgia, Humans, Interprofessional Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Assessment, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Workload, Workplace, Illness Behavior
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