Theory of mind and metacognitive functions in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract

Objective: We aim to evaluate the metacognitive functions and theories of mind of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Method: One hundred one patients who had been diagnosed with FMS in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic, and 101 healtly controls were included in this study. All clinical data form, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS), Beck Depression Scale (BDS), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) and Metacognitions Questionnaire Forms (MCI) were applied to all participants. Results: The RMET performance of patients with FMS was significantly lower than those of healthy controls. It was detected that the patients had more dysfunctional metacognitions. Patients with FMS used the 'uncontrollability and danger'metacognition and the 'cognitive trust' metacognition more frequently than healthy controls. The BAI and the BDI scores of the patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The RMET scores were not correlated with other scale scores. The BAO scores were moderately correlated with the MCI total scores and the "control inability and danger" subscale scores. The BDI correlated poorly with the 'cognitive trust', 'uncontrollability-danger' and the need for control of thinking' subscales of MCQ. Discussion: Dysfunctional metacognitions were higher in FMS patients and a different theory of mind functioning in some parameters. More studies are needed to reveal the levels of depression and anxiety, and the cognitive distortions in patients with FMS.