title: Fibromyalgia Impact and Mindfulness Characteristics in 4986 People with Fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A growing body of literature suggests that mindfulness techniques may be beneficial in fibromyalgia. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of six trials indicated improvement in depressive symptoms and quality of life, calling for increased rigor and use of standardized measures in future trials. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness [as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)] and fibromyalgia impact [as measured by the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR)].
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted with adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia from a national fibromyalgia advocacy foundation e-mail list.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4986 respondents represented all 50 states in the United States and 30 countries. FIQR scores demonstrated moderate to severe fibromyalgia with the majority of subjects (59%) scoring ≤60. Scores on the FFMQ subscales ranged from 20.8 to 27.3, with highest scores for the observe subscale. All subscale correlations were small to moderate and indicated that more severe fibromyalgia impact was associated with less mindfulness except in the observe scale (r = .15, P > .000). No clinical or demographics explained as much variance in the FIQR total as any of the mindfulness subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fibromyalgia patients experience symptoms that may be alleviated by mindfulness interventions. Baseline values for the observe subscale of the FFMQ were unexpectedly high. Further research is needed to know if this may be due to non-mindful observations and should be noted when the FFMQ is used in fibromyalgia clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health & Science University, Mail Code SN-ORD, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239. Electronic address: joneskim@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Kim D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Mist
authors.affiliation: Zoom Care, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Casselberry
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Ather
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Christopher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Fibromyalgia; Five Facet Mindfulness Scale-FFMQ; Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-FIQR; meditation; mindfulness