Predictors of pain and functioning over time in fibromyalgia syndrome: an autoregressive path analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Fibromyalgia is a disabling, chronic pain condition of unknown etiology. Although many factors have been recognized as important contributors to the pain experiences and functional abilities of fibromyalgia patients, the factors that are most impactful (and therefore represent optimal targets for intervention) are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the pathways among depression, self-efficacy, pain, and physical functioning in a large sample of fibromyalgia patients over a 1-year timeframe.


METHODS
Data from 462 participants (441 women) were analyzed using an autoregressive path analytical model with first- and second-order cross-lagged effects.


RESULTS
Self-efficacy was the only significant predictor of depression, physical functioning, and pain intensity ratings across time. Physical functioning at 6 months predicted self-efficacy at 1 year; no other factors related significantly to self-efficacy in the model.


CONCLUSIONS
Our model suggests that self-efficacy is a salient factor in fibromyalgia symptomatology. Our findings support designing interventions that use a multimodal approach, with an explicit focus on combining exercise (or other means) to improve physical functioning and psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy) with the intention of reprocessing the functional improvements and the implications of these improvements for the patients' ability to manage their fibromyalgia symptoms. By doing so, self-efficacy should be enhanced, and this would produce the greatest and broadest benefits for fibromyalgia patients.
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
Charles
C
Van Liew
Kimberly C
KC
Brown
Terry A
TA
Cronan
Silvia M
SM
Bigatti
Dhwani J
DJ
Kothari
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013223:Statistics as Topic