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The role of personality in patients with fibromyalgia

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Abstract

Previous studies suggest personality, the multifaceted characteristics underlying a person’s affect, cognition, and behavior, may influence fibromyalgia. We examined associations among personality, fibromyalgia impact, and health-related outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia. We further tested whether anxiety and depression mediated the effect of personality on fibromyalgia impact. We performed a secondary analysis using baseline data from a randomized trial on fibromyalgia. Personality was assessed using the NEO-Five Factor Inventory 3. Fibromyalgia impact was evaluated using the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). We also measured symptom severity, anxiety, depression, stress, quality of life, social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and mindfulness. Multivariable linear regression was performed to evaluate each association. Mediation analysis assessed whether anxiety and depression mediated the relationship between personality and FIQR. There were 92 participants, 95% female, mean age 52 years, body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m2, 52% white, and mean duration of body pain 14 years. Higher neuroticism was significantly associated with higher FIQR (P = 0.002) and symptom severity (P = 0.008), as well as higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress, worse mental component quality of life, and lower self-efficacy, mindfulness, and social support. Higher conscientiousness and extraversion were associated with better psychological health and health-related outcomes. The effect of neuroticism on fibromyalgia impact was mediated by anxiety and depression. Personality was associated with fibromyalgia impact and a variety of health outcomes. Identifying the factors that influence fibromyalgia will help us better understand the condition and provide insight for more effective treatment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully appreciate Teresa Wu for her contribution to the initial manuscript writing. We also thank Stephanie Hyon and Michelle Park for feedback on the written manuscript. We thank our study staff who tirelessly collected the data and the study participants who took the time to complete each outcome measure.

Disclaimer

The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NCCIH/NIH. The investigators are solely responsible for the content of the manuscript and the decision to submit for publication.

Funding

The study was supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) of the National Institutes of Health (R01 AT006367, K24 AT007323, and K23 AT009374) and the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (UL1 RR025752), and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000073 and UL1TR001064).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Integrative Medicine & Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street, Box 406, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Andrew Seto, Xingyi Han, William F. Harvey, Raveendhara R. Bannuru & Chenchen Wang

  2. The Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center; Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    Lori Lyn Price

  3. Center for Treatment Comparison and Integrative Analysis, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Raveendhara R. Bannuru

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  1. Andrew Seto
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  2. Xingyi Han
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  3. Lori Lyn Price
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  4. William F. Harvey
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  5. Raveendhara R. Bannuru
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  6. Chenchen Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chenchen Wang.

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This study was approved by the Tufts University Human Institutional Review Board.

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Seto, A., Han, X., Price, L.L. et al. The role of personality in patients with fibromyalgia. Clin Rheumatol 38, 149–157 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4316-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4316-7

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