Memory beliefs and function in fibromyalgia patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate memory beliefs and their relationship to actual memory function in fibromyalgia (FM) patients.


METHODS
Twenty-three FM patients, 23 age- and education-matched controls, and 22 older controls completed the Metamemory in Adulthood (MIA) questionnaire, which assessed beliefs about seven aspects of memory function. Group differences on the seven scales were assessed, and scores on the capacity scale were correlated with objective memory performance.


RESULTS
FM patients reported lower memory capacity and more memory deterioration than did either control group. Patients reported lower control or self-efficacy over memory, higher achievement motivation, higher strategy use, and higher anxiety about memory than age-matched controls did. Among the patients, perceived capacity, achievement motivation, and self-efficacy were significantly correlated with objective memory performance on a recall task.


CONCLUSIONS
FM patients' complaints about memory function have some accuracy.
Glass
Jennifer M
JM
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, United States. jglass@umich.edu
Park
Denise C
DC
Minear
Meredith
M
Crofford
Leslie J
LJ
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013223:Statistics as Topic