Evaluation of Big Five personality factors in women with fibromyalgia: a cross-sectional study

The effect of earthquake on fibromyalgia: a comparison of patients on medication and without medication

INTRODUCTION / OBJECTIVES

Stressful events like earthquakes might worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia, although the influence of medications on these consequences is yet uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of an earthquake on the symptoms of fibromyalgia and evaluate the impacts of medications used to treat fibromyalgia on the clinical picture.

METHOD

Ninety-five fibromyalgia patients were enrolled in a comparative study and divided into two groups: medication and non-medication. Three subcategories of medication groups were established: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and gabapentinoid drugs (GDs). Before and after the earthquake, clinical evaluations were conducted using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Jenkins Sleep Rating Scale (JSS). Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the scores before and after the earthquake and evaluate the differences between the groups.

RESULTS

Statistically significant increases were observed in FIQ, HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS scores in the medication and non-medication groups before and after the earthquake comparisons (p < 0.05). Non-medication group reported significantly higher post-earthquake changes in FIQ, HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS compared to the medication group (p < 0.05). While HADS-anxiety, HADS-depression, and JSS changes after the earthquake differed according to the drug subgroups (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference was observed in FIQ values (p > 0.05). The highest scores were detected in the GD subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the substantial impact of earthquakes on fibromyalgia patients. Medication use may assist in reducing the detrimental effects of stresses like earthquakes on fibromyalgia symptomatology. Future research with larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods is needed to explain these findings and optimize treatment regimens for fibromyalgia patients experiencing significant stressors.

Mapping the terrain: a scoping review of empirical studies on the big five personality traits and QoL in China

The relationship between personality traits and Quality of Life (QoL) has garnered increasing scholarly attention, particularly within the context of China. This scoping review synthesizes existing literature on the connection between the Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) and QoL among the Chinese population. The review explores correlations, measurement instruments, and theoretical frameworks employed in these studies. The study's significance lies in the profound implications for healthcare policies, organizational behavior, and social welfare programs in China, where rapid social and economic changes impact well-being. Investigating personality traits' impact on QoL can inform tailored interventions benefiting diverse Chinese subpopulations. This review addresses three primary research questions: (1) How do the Big Five personality traits correlate with QoL in different Chinese subpopulations, and what are the mediating or moderating factors? (2) What instruments assess these traits and QoL in the Chinese cultural context, and how are they validated? (3) What theoretical or disciplinary frameworks guide this research in China? Following a systematic PRISMA-ScR framework and a customized "C-BFQLC" protocol, the study identified 170 relevant documents. After rigorous screening, ten studies met the inclusion criteria, constituting 5.03% of the initial records. This scoping review critically examines the interplay between the Big Five personality traits and QoL in China, a context marked by rapid socioeconomic changes and cultural diversity. Employing a systematic approach guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework and our unique 'C-BFQLC' protocol, we meticulously analyzed 170 documents, selecting nine that met our rigorous inclusion criteria. Despite the emerging nature of this research area in the Chinese context, our study reveals significant insights into how individual personality traits influence various dimensions of well-being. The implications of these findings are profound, extending beyond academic discourse to inform healthcare policies, organizational behavior, and social welfare programs in China. Our review not only offers a comprehensive synthesis of the current research landscape but also identifies critical gaps in the literature. It emphasizes the urgent need for further culturally nuanced research to understand the complex dynamics of personality traits and QoL in China. This work lays a foundational framework for future investigations and the development of tailored interventions aimed at enhancing the well-being of diverse Chinese populations, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and specific occupational groups.

Psychological variables associated with resistance to treatment with serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors in fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE

The treatment of fibromyalgia (FM) often offers only partial pain relief. Among the most effective drugs for FM pain are serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). Few studies investigated the affective temperaments and personality features in FM. Our objective was to explore the associations between the affective temperaments, personality traits, schizotypy and response to SNRI treatment in FM.

METHODS

60 FM patients: 30 responsive to SNRI (FM T[+]), 30 non-responsive to SNRI (FM T[-] and 30 healthy controls were recruited. Resistance to SNRI was defined as <30% pain reduction during at least 8-week treatment. Subjects were assessed by physician and filled self-report questionnaires: Temperament Scale of Memphis, Pisa and San Diego- autoquestionnaire, Ten Item Personality Inventory, Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). ANOVA analysis and simple logistic regressions were used to examine the links between psychological variables and lack of response to SNRI.

RESULTS

FM T[-] presented higher scores in total FIQ and in physical, work, well-being, pain, fatigue/sleep, stiffness domains than FM T[+]. FM T[-] showed higher levels of: irritable and anxious temperaments, neuroticism, schizotypy than FM T[+]. The levels of depressive, irritable and anxious temperaments, introversion, neuroticism and schizotypy were linked to lack of response to SNRI.

CONCLUSIONS

FM T[+] and FM T[-] differ in clinical presentation and psychological features. The levels of affective temperaments, personality and schizotypal traits are associated with lack response to SNRI in FM.

The Big Five Personality Traits and Positive Orientation in Polish Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Meaning in Life

Scientific achievements concerning the direct relation between personality traits and positive orientation among patients with multiple sclerosis do not explain the role of potential mediators. In fact, some researchers argue that the traits–positivity association is much more complex than it seems to be. For this reason, we made an attempt to analyze the indirect relationship between the above-mentioned variables, including meaning in life as a mediator. In total, 618 patients with MS took part in the study. The NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Positive Orientation Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used. The results showed that positive orientation/the presence of meaning/searching for meaning correlated positively with extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, and were negatively associated with neuroticism. Moreover, meaning in life in both its dimensions acted as a mediator in 9 of 10 models. It can be assumed that a propensity to establish interpersonal relationships (extraversion), use active imagination (openness), inspire confidence among others (agreeableness), and take responsibility (conscientiousness) can have an impact on someone’s positive attitude toward oneself and the surrounding world (positive orientation) when people have meaning in life and when they are seeking it.