Physical and psychological variables that influence pain in patients with fibromyalgia.
BACKGROUND
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of chronic pain. Its etiology is unknown and treatment is not well defined.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of specific variables on pain in 107 women with fibromyalgia.


METHODS
Data collection included two pain measurements administered by the researcher, four survey questionnaires self-administered by the participants (measuring activity, fatigue, depression, and demographic data), and three measures of physical fitness for flexibility, strength, and endurance.


RESULTS
Fatigue, pelvic pain, and physical trauma explained 23% of the variance in sensory pain; activity, depression, and pelvic pain explained 23% of affective pain; and a flare-up of symptoms and depression explained 25% of the intensity of pain experienced by the participants.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses should consider decreasing depression and fatigue and increasing activity so that fibromyalgia pain may be lessened during care.
Nebraska Methodist College, Omaha, USA.
Linda
L
Hughes
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005221:Fatigue / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires