The Effect of Traumatic Experiences on Disease in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between FMS patients' traumatic experiences of patients with Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Depression. Methods: Patients with fibromyalgia (n = 120), osteoarthritis (n = 224), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 61) and depression (n = 59) who were agree to participate in the study were included in the study. A total of 6 scales performed including childhood trauma, dissociative experiences, stress-coping style, traumatic experiences checklist (TEC), Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS) and socio-demographic information form to achieve the aim of the study. Results: The scores of childhood trauma and dissociative experiences of FMS, OA, RA groups were significantly lower than the patients with depression. There was no significant difference between the FMS, OA and RA groups in terms of these characteristics. Moreover, it was found that patients with depression used less stress coping methods differed from the other groups which used similar stress coping styles. There was no significant difference between all groups in terms of traumatic experiences checklist results. However, when each yes answers of TEC were compared, it was found that frequency of physical and sexual abuse, and emotional neglect in patients with depression were higher than other groups. Anxiety levels of FMS and patients with depression were both similar and high. Conclusion: Trauma can lead to both functional and organic pain. Traumatic experiences, dissociative behaviors of FMS patients, who have functional pain, were lower than patients with depression. However, these characteristics of patients with FMS were similar with OA and RA patients, who have organic pain.