title: [Characterization of the pain, sleep and alexithymia patterns of patients with fibromyalgia treated in a Brazilian tertiary center].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome that is characterized by lasting and diffuse chronic musculoskeletal pain, derived from non-inflammatory causes and classically associated with the presence of specific tender points. However, studies have highlighted other important symptoms associated with a lower quality of life (QOL) in FM, such as sleep disturbances and alexithymia. This study aimed to investigate the pain, sleep and alexithymia patterns of FM patients treated in a Brazilian tertiary center.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 patients with FM who were followed-up in the Rheumatology outpatient clinic of a Brazilian tertiary center (Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto - FAMERP, São Paulo, Brazil) and 20 patients without FM from other outpatient services of the FAMERP completed a clinical and socio-demographic questionnaire, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the SF-36 (WHOQOL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with FM presented worse performances in all QOL dimensions of the SF-36 and higher scores on the PSQI (p=0.01), and the TAS-20 (p=0.02). Patients with FM also scored significantly higher in all specific domains of PSQI and TAS-20.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data were in accordance with literature, disclosing a worse performance of patients with FM on pain impact, sleep complains and more presence of alexithymia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies have disclosed the presence of important and frequently underdiagnosed symptoms beyond pain complaints in FM, such as sleep complaints and alexithymia, and a better knowledge of such disturbances might improve FM patients' approach and treatment.
authors: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Lazslo A
authors: LA
authors: Avila
authors: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil. Electronic address: filho.gerardo@gmail.com.
authors: Gerardo M
authors: GM
authors: de Araujo Filho
authors: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Estefano F U
authors: EF
authors: Guimarães
authors: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Lauro C S
authors: LC
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Paola N
authors: PN
authors: Paschoalin
authors: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil.
authors: Fabia B
authors: FB
authors: Aleixo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Alexithymia; Alexitimia; Fibromialgia; Fibromyalgia; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Qualidade de vida; Quality of life; Queixas de sono; Sleep complaints; Toronto Alexithymia Scale