depression may mistake the physical signs of an underlying disease for
symptoms of depression thus overestimating the rate of depression in
some patients. The is most likely to happen when the terms used are
not defined using specificity and severity.
J Psychosom Res. 2012 Jan;72(1):39-44. Epub 2011 Jun 30.
Health and distress predictors of heart rate variability in
fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic pain.
Mostoufi SM, Afari N, Ahumada SM, Reis V, Wetherell JL
San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint
Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To examine health, psychological, and autonomic impairment differences
between individuals with fibromyalgia and those with other chronic
benign pain in these conditions. The possible role of the autonomic
nervous system in the maintenance of chronic benign pain can be
examined using heart rate variability (HRV), which measures the
interplay between the excitatory sympathetic and the inhibitory
parasympathetic nervous system. Predictors of HRV will also be
examined.
METHODS:
This study examined resting HRV in a sample of 84 patients with
chronic benign pain, a subgroup of whom had fibromyalgia. Participants
completed a battery of self-report measures and underwent measurements
of resting HRV.
RESULTS:
Individuals with fibromyalgia experienced higher levels of depression
(t (82)=-2.27, p<.05) and significantly greater difficulty with
physical functioning (t (75.8)=2.65, p<.01) than did those with other
chronic benign pain, there were no significant differences in any of
the HRV indices. Across all pain conditions, we found that age,
gender, physical health functioning, pain anxiety, and pain sensations
were all significant predictors of HRV, suggesting that each are
involved in the relationship between chronic benign pain and autonomic
function.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings emphasize the importance of addressing psychological
distress and physical functioning in chronic pain populations and
specifically fibromyalgia. Future research can further examine the
role of physical health functioning, psychological distress, and pain
severity in the relationship between chronic pain and autonomic
abnormalities.
Published by Elsevier Inc.
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