Donna J. Hawley

Socioeconomic impact of fibrositis: A study of 81 patients with primary fibrositis

Demographics and health service utilization were studied for 81 patients with fibrositis during 1985. Patients reported high levels of pain, mild disability, and moderate impairment of global health. Work disability was limited and only 6.3 percent described themselves as disabled. Employed patients were able to work full work weeks. Utilization of outpatient medical services was increased compared with that of control subjects and national averages during the study year, but was consistent with other rheumatic disorders such as osteoarthritis and low back pain. Medication usage was limited and seemed appropriate. Very high hospitalization rates were noted prior to diagnosis of fibrositis, both for musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal hospitalizations, but these rates dropped during the post-diagnosis study year.

Psychosocial factors and the fibromyalgia syndrome.

Summary Psychosocial distress and psychological abnormality occurs frequently in fibromyalgia patients. Patterns of decreased levels of education, and increased rates of divorce, obesity, and smoking have been noted in clinical and epidemiological studies. Links to physical and sexual abuse have been noted as well. Major depression as well as increased rates of depression, anxiety, and somatization are also commonly found in fibromyalgia.Zusammenfassung Psychosozialer Stress und psychische Auffälligkeiten werden bei Fibromyalgie Patienten vermehrt beobachtet. In klinischen und epidemiologischen Studien findet sich gehäuft ein Muster von niedrigem Bildungsgrad, erhöhter Scheidungsrate, Übergewicht und Nikotinabusus. In gleicher Weise gehäuft finden sich physische Gewalt und sexueller Mißbrauch in der Anamnese. Manifeste Depression als auch erhöhte Raten auf Skalen für Depressivität, Ängstlichkeit und Somatisierungstendenz werden überlicherweise ebenso bei Fibromyalgie gefunden.