The relationship between pain beliefs and psychiatric symptoms of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the pain beliefs and psychiatric symptoms of the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 145 patients diagnosed with FMS between August 2018 and January 2019 in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation polyclinic of Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital. The sociodemographic data form prepared by authors, Pain Beliefs Scale (PBS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were applied to the patients. Results: Mean age of FMS patients is 35.42±9.10 years, 57.9% (n=84) are female, 70.3% (n=102) are married and 95.9% (n=139) live in nuclear families. Of the patients, 46.9% (n=68) were reported that they perceived the pain at the severity of 9-10 (mean: 8.12±1.29) according to VAS. Mean score of organic beliefs was 4.87±0.77, and mean score of psychological beliefs was 5.17±0.52. It was found that depression (62.8%) and anxiety (33.1%) levels were very advanced, and stress (45.5%) levels were advanced. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between the DASS total and the subscales of depression, anxiety and stress and both organic beliefs and psychological beliefs (all p values <0.001). Conclusion: The patients' pain beliefs and pain perception levels were found high and the rate of accompanying psychiatric symptoms was also high. While the patients' pain beliefs increase, their depression, anxiety and stress levels also increase. It is important to use holistic approaches to strengthen the response given to treatment in patients with FMS.