Objective:

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disorder that causes chronic extensive musculoskeletal pain. Although there has been great debate in recent investigations regarding the risk factors of FMS, no agreement has been reached about the pathophysiology of the syndrome. In recent studies, it has been suggested that there is an abnormal response to stress factors in this syndrome due to the neuro-endocrine system perturbation as a result of stress experiences such as abuse during childhood, adolescence or adulthood. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the differences of all types of partner violence experienced by patients with FMS and healthy controls.

Method:

Forty-three consecutive married women aged between 18-65 years who were recently diagnosed as having FMS were recruited from Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research Hospital Outpatient Clinic. The diagnosis of FMS was made by experienced physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) FMS diagnostic criteria . Patients who were referred to the Bakırköy Psychiatric Research and Training Hospital were evaluated by an experienced psychiatrist. 43 female patients with FMS and 45 female (non-FMS) controls were evaluated with a questionnaire about previous physical, sexual, emotional, social and economic partner violence, the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Inventories (HAM-D and HAM-A, respectively), and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Results:

The FMS group and healthy control group showed no statistically significant difference in terms of age and the presence of psychiatric administration (p>0.05); however, the sample showed a significant difference with regards to education, occupation status, and history of suicide attempts. Significantly higher scores were observed for partner physical violence (27.9% vs. 11.1%), economic violence (48.8% vs. 13.3%), social violence (83.7% vs. 22.3%), and emotional violence (62.8% vs. 28.9%) in FMS patients than in controls (p<0.05). Higher HAM-A and HAM-D inventory and VAS scores were observed in the FMS group than controls (p<0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between VAS and HAM-A, HAM-D scores (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

Our results may have implications to show the effect of partner violence on the clinic and course of FMS.

Keywords: anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, pain severity, partner violence