THU0473 MINDFULNESS IN FIBROMYALGIA: MEAN LEVELS AND CORRELATION WITH DISEASE BURDEN

Abstract

Background: Limited evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions can have a role in the management of fibromyalgia (FMS) [1], with positive effects on quality of life, pain perception [2] and sleep problems [3]. However, there is little data on the levels of mindfulness in FMS and its relationship with the impact of disease. Objectives: To evaluate the levels of mindfulness and its correlation with disease burden in FMS. Methods: Mindfulness was assessed in 112 FMS patients (mean age 45.34±11.36 yrs, 86.5% females) and in 128 (43.60±14.35 yrs, 75% females) healthy control subjects by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) questionnaire [4]. The MAAS, a 15-item scale developed to assess individual differences in the frequency of mindful states over time, is the most popular scale measuring mindfulness. Each item can be scored on a Likert scale from 1 to 6, lower scores indicating a greater tendency towards mindfulness. FMS patients were further evaluated by Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Scale Score as per 2016 criteria, by the revised FIQ score, and by the Facit- Fatigue scale. Data analysis, including ANOVA and Pearson correlations, was performed with the SPSS software. Results: In the whole population, mean MAAS score was 4.17±0.72, a value comparable to literature data in different populations, and was correlated to age (r=0.175, p= 0.008) but not significantly different in males vs females (4.28±0.67 vs 4.16± 0.72). FMS patients and control subjects showed similar values (4.12±0.80 and 4.22±0.63, p=0.291). In FMS patients, the MAAS score showed a significant direct correlation with FACIT-fatigue scores, and a significant inverse correlation with overall impact of disease, as assessed by the burden of somatic symptoms and FIQR score. MAAS score showed no significant correlations with variables directly related to pain domain (WPI, tender points), nor with disease duration (Table 1). Conclusion: Mindfulness levels, as assessed by MAAS questionnaire, are not significantly different in FMS patients as compared to unselected healthy control subjects. However, levels of mindfulness are higher in patients reporting a higher disease burden, but lower in patients reporting lower levels of fatigue, and are not significantly correlated to pain. Mindfulness in FMS shows complex interactions with the different domains of the disease, and needs to be further investigated, in order to clarify its relationship with disease features, and eventually to establish guidelines for mindfulness-based interventions.