Biomaterial Database

Personality pattern in rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgic syndrome. Psychological investigation. 1989

G Piergiacomi, and P Blasetti, and C Berti, and M Ercolani, and C Cervini

Department of Rheumatology, University of Ancona, Italy.

This study reports the psychological symptomatology assessed in 50 rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) and 50 with primary fibromyalgic syndrome (PFS). Depression and illness behavior were investigated by two self-report scales in their validated Italian translations: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) and Illness Behavior Questionnaire developed by Pilowsky and Spence (IBQ). Our results suggest that the average RA patients were not depressed to a clinically significant level at the time of the investigation. The mean scores of CES-D by RA patients do not differ from those found in Italian patients affected by other organic diseases. On the contrary, mean score in the CES-D depression scale obtained from PFS patients was significantly higher than the cut-off point. In analyzing the pattern of illness behavior the significant difference between RA and PFS patients in scale of denial of problems is relevant. This means the RA patients have a tendency to deny life stresses and to attribute all problems to the effects of their illness. Such a result is in line with a classic psychosomatic point of view, that defines RA patients as alexitimic ones, that is, with poor capacity to recognize and express emotions. Our data support both the hypothesis that depressive symptoms are more common among PFS patients than RA patients, and that psychological factors may play a significant role in most patients with PFS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010556	Personality Tests	Standardized objective tests designed to facilitate the evaluation of personality.	Personality Test,Test, Personality,Tests, Personality
D005260	Female		Females
D005356	Fibromyalgia	A common nonarticular rheumatic syndrome characterized by myalgia and multiple points of focal muscle tenderness to palpation (trigger points). Muscle pain is typically aggravated by inactivity or exposure to cold. This condition is often associated with general symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, HEADACHES, and occasionally DEPRESSION. There is significant overlap between fibromyalgia and the chronic fatigue syndrome (FATIGUE SYNDROME, CHRONIC). Fibromyalgia may arise as a primary or secondary disease process. It is most frequent in females aged 20 to 50 years. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1494-95)	Diffuse Myofascial Pain Syndrome,Fibrositis,Rheumatism, Muscular,Fibromyalgia, Primary,Fibromyalgia, Secondary,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Diffuse,Fibromyalgia Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndromes,Fibromyalgias,Fibromyalgias, Primary,Fibromyalgias, Secondary,Fibromyositis Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndromes,Fibrositides,Muscular Rheumatism,Primary Fibromyalgia,Primary Fibromyalgias,Secondary Fibromyalgia,Secondary Fibromyalgias,Syndrome, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndrome, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia,Syndromes, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndromes, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000223	Adaptation, Psychological	A state of harmony between internal needs and external demands and the processes used in achieving this condition. (From APA Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed).	Behavior, Adaptive,Healthy Adaptation,Positive Adaptation,Psychological Recovery,Adaptation, Psychologic,Adjustment,Psychological Adaptation,Adaptation, Healthy,Adaptation, Positive,Adaptive Behavior,Adaptive Behaviors,Healthy Adaptations,Positive Adaptations,Psychologic Adaptation,Psychological Recoveries,Recovery, Psychological
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis
D012803	Sick Role	Set of expectations that exempt persons from responsibility for their illness and exempt them from usual responsibilities.	Role, Sick,Roles, Sick,Sick Roles