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Fibromyalgia and dissociative symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2019

Juan Manuel Duarte*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences, Deutsches Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic
Catherine Crow
Affiliation:
Rheumatology Unit, Deutsches Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic
Ariel Antik
Affiliation:
Hospital de Agudos “Carlos Durand”, Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic
Francisco Appiani
Affiliation:
Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, University Hospital “José de San Martin”, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic
Alejandro Caride
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences, Deutsches Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic
*
*Address correspondence to: Juan Manuel Duarte, Deutsches Hospital, Hospital Alemán. Department of Neurosciences. Av Pueyrredón 1640, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (C1118AAT), Argentine Republic. (Email: jduarte@hospitalaleman.com)

Abstract

Background

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome with a controversial etiopathogenesis. Patients with FM usually complain of cognitive symptoms, which are described as “fibrofog.” These cognitive complaints might be caused partially by dissociative disorders (DD). The aim of this research is to determine the association between FM and DD.

Methods

The authors conducted a case-control study for this purpose, integrated by 3 groups: control (C), patients with rheumatic disorders (R), and patients with FM (FM), who were compared through the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES).

The findings are as follows: 42% were taking medications in the FM group, and their differences in scores with those who were not under medications were then considered. In terms of the results, the FM group showed higher scores than both C and R groups (p < 0.05). Patients with FM who were taking antidepressants had lower scores than those who were not (Z-score –8.03; p < 0.05); and finally, 5.71% had a score over 30 (χ2 = 3.73, p = 0.15).

Conclusion

Patients with FM had higher scores, which might be related to the association of dissociative experiences, lifetime trauma, and victimization. Antidepressants might have some role on dissociative symptoms as well.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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