Cognitive and Dissociative Manifestations in Fibromyalgia

Reaction Time in Fibromyalgia Patients

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia has unknown aetiology and is associated with reduced information processing speed and therefore prolonged reaction time. However, the processes underlying this are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

First, to compare the reaction time in a cohort of fibromyalgia patients and a matched group of normal controls. Second, to assess whether detailed symptoms of pain and autonomic function, as well as measures of tinnitus, fatigue, daytime sleepiness and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are predictors of reaction time in fibromyalgia.

METHODS

The between-groups mean serial five-choice reaction time difference was assessed in a cohort of fibromyalgia patients and in a matched group of normal controls in an analytical casecontrolled study. With the mean serial five-choice reaction time as the dependent variable for the fibromyalgia group, a mixed stepwise multiple linear regression was performed with inputs relating to pain, dysautonomia, tinnitus, fatigue, daytime sleepiness and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

RESULTS

The mean (standard error) serial five-choice reaction time for the fibromyalgia group was 448.4 (23.0) ms, compared with 386.3 (8.3) ms for the control group (p = 0.007). The final multiple linear regression model (p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.772) contained 13 predictors: eight sensory pain and three affective pain parameters, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgG and IgA assay results.

CONCLUSION

Certain sensory and affective pain parameters, as well as Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, appear to be predictors of reaction time in fibromyalgia. Further research into the pathophysiological mechanisms by which they affect information processing is warranted and may shed light on the aetiology of fibromyalgia.

The effect of supervised dynamic exercise program on somatosensory temporal discrimination in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the effect of a supervised dynamic exercise program on somatosensory temporal discrimination (STD) which indicates the central sensory processing ability.

Patients and methods

Forty-eight patients (mean age: 43 years; range, 19 to 64 years) with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) were included in this prospective, randomized study between April 2018 and October 2018. Demographics and clinical measurements were recorded. The STD threshold was measured by a researcher blinded to the treatment groups. After baseline assessments, the patients were randomized into two groups: the supervised exercise group (SEG) and the home exercise group (HEG) as the control group. The SEG performed submaximal aerobic exercise and low-medium resistant isotonic exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist, 1-h per day, three days in a week for four weeks. The HEG was given a home-based exercise program consisting of low-to-medium resistance isotonic exercises and aerobic exercises 1-h per day, three days in a week for four weeks. After exercise program, clinical assessments and STD threshold measurement were repeated.

Results

Clinical and STD threshold measures improved significantly after four-week exercise program in both groups. The improvements in clinical measures were significantly higher in the SEG. However, there was no difference in the STD threshold improvement between the groups. No correlation was found between the STD threshold measure and clinical features in any patients.

Conclusion

Although a significant improvement was achieved in impaired STD threshold with SEG, it was not found to be superior to the amelioration observed with HEG.

Hypnotic predictors of agency: Responsiveness to specific suggestions in hypnosis is associated with involuntariness in fibromyalgia

Hypnosis is associated with alterations in the sense of agency which can play a role in its utilization as a nonpharmacological option for pain management. The goal of the current study was to examine the relationships between responsiveness to suggestions in hypnosis and alterations of the sense of agency among patients with fibromyalgia. Ninety-eight participants with fibromyalgia underwent two hypnotizability assessments followed by the Sense of Agency Rating Scale. Clinical pain measures were also collected. Involuntariness was predicted by responsiveness to control, ideomotor, and dissociation suggestions. Effortlessness was predicted by responsiveness to control and ideomotor suggestions, and age. Hypnotizability was associated with main clinical pain outcomes, but agency alterations were not. Results suggest a shared mechanism between responsiveness to specific suggestions and the sense of agency in hypnosis. We discuss theoretical and clinical implications for pain management and the need for further research.

Blunted Pain Modulation Response to Induced Stress in Women with Fibromyalgia with and without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Comorbidity: New Evidence of Hypo-Reactivity to Stress in Fibromyalgia?

There is evidence regarding the presence of alterations in both the stress response and the endogenous pain modulation systems of people with fibromyalgia (FM). However, research on pain modulation under induced stress on FM patients is scarce and contradictory. The present study analyzes stress-induced changes in pain and intolerance thresholds among FM patients, examining the possible existence of differences linked to PTSD comorbidity and gaining insights into the role of cardiovascular reactivity. Eighteen women diagnosed with FM and comorbid PTSD (FM + PTSD), 18 women diagnosed with FM and no PTSD (FM-PTSD), and 38 healthy women (HC) were exposed to the Social Stress Test task. Pressure pain thresholds and intolerance thresholds were measured before and during stress induction, and after a recovery period, while systolic blood pressure and heart rate were simultaneously recorded. Overall, while pain thresholds decreased during stress and recovery for HC, no significant changes were observed for women with FM. The intolerance threshold decreased for HC during stress, but was maintained at basal level during recovery. FM-PTSD women exhibited a delayed response, with a drop at recovery. For FM + PTSD, tolerance levels remained unchanged. In addition, cardiovascular reactivity did not seem to explain these results. This performance of the pain modulation system seems to follow the same pattern of hypoactive responsiveness under stressors that has previously been observed in FM patients on the autonomic and neuroendocrine axes. Such a hypoactive pattern may involve a non-adaptive response that may contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic pain.

The relationship between disease severity and defense mechanisms in fibromyalgia syndrome

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible relationship between the disease severity and defense mechanisms in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to contribute to the clarification of the etiopathogenesis of FMS.

Patients and methods

A total of 103 female patients (mean age: 42.6±10.0 years; range, 20 to 67 years) diagnosed with primary FMS based on the 2016 revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria and without any psychiatric diagnosis were included in the study. A semi-structured sociodemographic and clinical data form was used. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (DSQ-40), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to all patients. Based on the FIQ scores, the patients were divided into two groups as mild-moderate (<70) and severe (≥70) FMS groups.

Results

There were 56 patients in the mild-moderate FMS group and 47 patients in the severe FMS group. As FIQ scores increased, sublimation (r=-0.204, p=0.030) and mature factor (r=-0.229, p=0.020) scores decreased, and projection (r=0.210, p=0.033) and somatization (r=0.287, p=0.003) scores increased. Pseudoaltruism (p=0.043), displacement (p=0.026), and somatization (p=0.021) scores were higher in the severe FMS group. The BDI and BAI scores were also higher in the severe FMS group, compared to the mild-moderate FMS group (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

Our study results show that there is a significant correlation between the increased disease severity, decreased mature defense mechanisms, and increased immature defense mechanisms in FMS patients.

Cortisol levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and atypical depression measured using hair and saliva specimens

BACKGROUND

Several diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDE) overlap with those of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Furthermore, atypical MDE (A-MDE), a subtype of MDE characterised by profound fatigue and which has frequently been linked with CFS, exhibits similar low cortisol levels to CFS. However, this result has been only found in specimens designed for measuring acute cortisol levels. In this study, we measure cortisol levels in subjects with CFS and in subjects with A-MDE, without psychiatric comorbidity, using both hair and saliva specimens, to gain a measure of both short and long-term cortisol levels in these two conditions.

METHODS

Hair cortisol concentration, representing the cortisol concentration of the previous three months, and salivary cortisol, measured at six time-points across one day and including the cortisol awakening response (CAR), post-awakening delta cortisol and the total daily output, were assessed in an age and gender matched group of 34 controls, 15 subjects with A-MDE and 17 with CFS.

RESULTS

CFS (mean 92.2 nmol/l.h, s.d. 33.2 nmol/l.h) and A-MDE (mean 89.1 nmol/l.h, s.d. 22.6 nmol/l.h) subjects both showed lower cortisol total daily output in saliva (AUCg) in comparison to healthy controls (mean 125.5 nmol/l.h, s.d. 40.6 nmol/l.h). However, hair cortisol concentration was not lower than that of controls in either patient group. CFS and A-MDE did not differ from one another on any cortisol measures. CFS subjects reported fewer daily hassles and less severe psychic anxiety symptoms in comparison to A-MDE subjects (all p < 0.05). However, they did not differ in the severity of somatic anxiety symptoms. There was also no difference in the presence of overlapping symptoms such as fatigability and concentration/memory problems between A-MDE and CFS subjects.

CONCLUSION

Low levels of cortisol found using short-term measures of daily output may be transient, since cortisol levels were normal when a long-term measure (hair) was studied. This might be explained by a potential cortisol rhythm alteration. Although these disorders have their distinctive depressive and somatic features, they may from part of a wider group of Somatic Symptom Disorders (SSD), given the findings of the same pattern of cortisol secretion in both disorders and increased frequency of overlapping clinical features.

The Role of Environmental Distractions in the Experience of Fibrofog in Real-World Settings

OBJECTIVE

Perceived cognitive dysfunction in people with fibromyalgia (FM), "fibrofog," is commonly reported and has been demonstrated in neurocognitive testing. Distractibility and inattention have been implicated as potential contributors to fibrofog, but the role of environmental distractions has not been explored. In this study, ambulatory assessment methods were used to examine whether FM is related to more environmental distractions and to examine the impact of distractions on subjective and objective cognitive functioning.

METHODS

Fifty people with FM and 50 age-, sex-, and education-matched controls without FM completed 8 consecutive days of ambulatory assessments. Five times per day, participants reported perceived cognitive functioning and environmental distractions and completed validated tests of processing speed and working memory.

RESULTS

The FM group reported distractions in a higher proportion of the ambulatory cognitive testing sessions (40.5%) compared with the group without FM (29.8%; P < 0.001) and more often reported multiple simultaneous distractions. For both groups, sound was the most common distraction. The group with FM reported more distractions caused by light, and the group without FM reported more social distractions. Group differences in subjective and objective cognitive functioning were not augmented during distraction relative to during periods of no distraction. There were no group differences in within-person changes in cognitive functioning as a function of distraction.

CONCLUSION

The group with FM reported more distractions than the group without FM; both groups reported poorer processing speed when distracted, and the effects of distraction on test performance did not differ significantly by group. Findings suggest that sensitivity to environmental distractions may play a role in the experience of cognitive dysfunction in FM.

Fibromyalgia and dissociative symptoms

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome with a controversial etiopathogenesis. Patients with FM usually complain of cognitive symptoms, which are described as "fibrofog." These cognitive complaints might be caused partially by dissociative disorders (DD). The aim of this research is to determine the association between FM and DD.

METHODS

The authors conducted a case-control study for this purpose, integrated by 3 groups: control (C), patients with rheumatic disorders (R), and patients with FM (FM), who were compared through the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES).The findings are as follows: 42% were taking medications in the FM group, and their differences in scores with those who were not under medications were then considered. In terms of the results, the FM group showed higher scores than both C and R groups (p < 0.05). Patients with FM who were taking antidepressants had lower scores than those who were not (Z-score -8.03; p < 0.05); and finally, 5.71% had a score over 30 (χ2 = 3.73, p = 0.15).

CONCLUSION

Patients with FM had higher scores, which might be related to the association of dissociative experiences, lifetime trauma, and victimization. Antidepressants might have some role on dissociative symptoms as well.

Brain Electrical Activity Associated With Visual Attention and Reactive Motor Inhibition in Patients With Fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a generalized chronic pain condition associated with multiple cognitive impairments, including altered inhibitory processes. Inhibition is a key component of human executive functions and shares neural substrate with pain processing, which may explain the inhibitory deficits in FM. Here, we investigated the integrity of brain inhibitory mechanisms in these patients.

METHODS

We recorded the electroencephalographic activity of 27 patients with FM and 27 healthy controls (HCs) (all women) while they performed a reactive motor inhibition task (the stop-signal paradigm). We analyzed task-induced modulations in electrophysiological markers related to inhibition (N2, P3, and midfrontal theta oscillations) and visual attention (posterior alpha oscillations).

RESULTS

The FM group performed the task correctly, with no differences relative to HCs at the behavioral level. We did not find any between-group differences in N2 amplitude (F(1,52) = 0.01, p = .93), P3 amplitude (F(1,52) = 3.46; p = .068), or theta power (F(1,52) = 0.05; p = .82). However, modulation of posterior alpha power after presentation of either the go or stop stimuli was lower in patients than in HCs (F(1,52) = 7.98; p = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

N2, P3, theta power, and behavioral results indicate that the mechanisms of motor inhibition are sufficiently preserved to enable correct performance of the stop-signal task in patients with FM. Nevertheless, the lower modulation of alpha suggests greater difficulty in mobilizing and maintaining visual attentional resources, a result that may explain the cognitive dysfunction observed in FM.

A unifying theory for cognitive abnormalities in functional neurological disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Functional cognitive disorder (FCD) describes cognitive dysfunction in the absence of an organic cause. It is increasingly prevalent in healthcare settings yet its key neuropsychological features have not been reported in large patient cohorts. We hypothesised that cognitive profiles in fibromyalgia (FM), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and functional neurological disorders (FNDs) would provide a template for characterising FCD.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of studies with cognition-related outcomes in FM, CFS and FND.

RESULTS

We selected 52 studies on FM, 95 on CFS and 39 on FND. We found a general discordance between high rates of subjective cognitive symptoms, including forgetfulness, distractibility and word-finding difficulties, and inconsistent objective neuropsychological deficits. Objective deficits were reported, including poor selective and divided attention, slow information processing and vulnerability to distraction. In some studies, cognitive performance was inversely correlated with pain, exertion and fatigue. Performance validity testing demonstrated poor effort in only a minority of subjects, and patients with CFS showed a heightened perception of effort.

DISCUSSION

The cognitive profiles of FM, CFS and non-cognitive FND are similar to the proposed features of FCD, suggesting common mechanistic underpinnings. Similar findings have been reported in patients with mild traumatic brain injury and whiplash. We hypothesise that pain, fatigue and excessive interoceptive monitoring produce a decrease in externally directed attention. This increases susceptibility to distraction and slows information processing, interfering with cognitive function, in particular multitasking. Routine cognitive processes are experienced as unduly effortful. This may reflect a switch from an automatic to a less efficient controlled or explicit cognitive mode, a mechanism that has also been proposed for impaired motor control in FND. These experiences might then be overinterpreted due to memory perfectionism and heightened self-monitoring of cognitive performance.

Prevalence of fibromyalgia in fourteen Korean tertiary care university hospital pain clinics

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of fibromyalgia (FM) in patients who visited outpatient pain clinics in Korea, using the modified 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and to evaluate comorbid conditions that may be associated with FM.

Patients and methods

Outpatients, aged ≥18 years, who first visited pain clinics at any of the 14 tertiary care university hospitals, were recruited for this study. Modified 2010 ACR criteria were used to diagnose FM. Participants’ demographic information and eleven comorbid measures (sleep disturbance, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, amnesia, hypothyroidism, headache, anxiety, depression, rheumatism, low back pain, and history of traffic accident) were also investigated via additional questionnaires.

Results

We recruited 1,233 outpatients (754 men and 479 women). Based on the modified 2010 ACR criteria, 13.38% (165/1,233 patients, 95% CI: 11.48–15.28) of patients had FM. As participants with a history of FM were excluded, the prevalence of FM was 11.0% (123/1,118 patients). Patients with FM were more likely to have one or more of the eleven predetermined comorbid conditions. Patients who were female and who had a previous history of FM, sleep disturbance, headache, or a history of traffic accident were more likely to have FM.

Conclusion

FM, according to the modified 2010 ACR criteria, appears to be a common disorder among chronic pain patients referred to tertiary care university hospital pain clinics. Therefore, physicians treating pain should consider this prevalence of FM among pain clinic patients.

Executive function impairments in fibromyalgia syndrome: Relevance of clinical variables and body mass index

Background

Several investigations suggest the presence of deterioration of executive function in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The study quantified executive functions in patients with FMS. A wide array of functions was assessed, including updating, shifting and inhibition, as well as decision making and mental planning. Moreover, clinical variables were investigated as possible mediators of executive dysfunction, including pain severity, psychiatric comorbidity, medication and body mass index (BMI).

Methods

Fifty-two FMS patients and 32 healthy controls completed a battery of 14 neuropsychological tests. Clinical interviews were conducted and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Fatigue Severity Scale and Oviedo Quality of Sleep Questionnaire were presented.

Results

Patients performed poorer than controls on the Letter Number Sequencing, Arithmetic and Similarities subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Spatial Span subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale, an N-back task, a verbal fluency task, the Ruff Figural Fluency Test, the Inhibition score of the Stroop Test, the Inhibition and Shifting scores of the Five Digits Test, the Key Search Test and the Zoo Map Task. Moreover, patients exhibited less steep learning curves on the Iowa Gambling Task. Among clinical variables, BMI and pain severity explained the largest proportion of performance variance.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated impairments in executive functions of updating, shifting inhibition, decision making and planning in FMS. While the mediating role of pain in cognitive impairments in FMS had been previously established, the influence of BMI is a novel finding. Overweight and obesity should be considered by FMS researchers, and in the treatment of the condition.

Meta-analysis of cognitive performance in fibromyalgia

INTRODUCTION

Fibromyalgia is a condition with symptoms of pain, physical function difficulties, and emotional problems, but is also characterized by complaints of poor cognition (often called "FibroFog"). Over the last two decades, a number of studies have examined cognitive differences between individuals with and without fibromyalgia. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a quantitative synthesis of these differences across multiple cognitive domains.

METHOD

Following Cochrane guidelines, we identified 37 eligible studies for analysis where persons with fibromyalgia (total n = 964) were compared to participants from age-matched control groups without fibromyalgia (total n = 1025) on a range of neuropsychological measures. Group differences between persons with fibromyalgia and healthy controls were examined for cognitive domains including processing speed, long- and short-term memory, and executive functions (inhibitory control, set shifting, updating, and accessing). Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted to determine effect sizes for these differences in cognitive performance.

RESULTS

Fibromyalgia was significantly and negatively associated with performance on all domains of cognitive function. The largest effect size was found for inhibitory control (g = 0.61), followed by memory (g = 0.51 for short-term, 0.50 for long-term memory). The smallest cognitive difference between those with fibromyalgia and controls was for set shifting (g = 0.30).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the hypothesis that the self-reported cognitive impact of fibromyalgia is also found in objective neuropsychological measures. Routine screening for cognitive dysfunction in those with fibromyalgia may be warranted in addition to assessment of the traditional fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that is part of a spectrum of syndromes that lack precise classification. It is often considered as part of the global overview of functional somatic syndromes that are otherwise medically unexplained or part of a somatization disorder. Patients with fibromyalgia share symptoms with other functional somatic problems, including issues of myalgias, arthralgias, fatigue and sleep disturbances. Indeed, there is often diagnostic and classification overlap for the case definitions of a variety of somatization disorders. Fibromyalgia, however, is a critically important syndrome for physicians and scientists to be aware of. Patients should be taken very seriously and provided optimal care. Although inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune disorders have all been ascribed to be etiological events in the development of fibromyalgia, there is very little data to support such a thesis. Many of these disorders are associated with depression and anxiety and may even be part of what has been sometimes called affected spectrum disorders. There is no evidence that physical trauma, i.e., automobile accidents, is associated with the development or exacerbation of fibromyalgia. Treatment should be placed on education, patient support, physical therapy, nutrition, and exercise, including the use of drugs that are approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Treatment should not include opiates and patients should not become poly pharmacies in which the treatment itself can lead to significant morbidities. Patients with fibromyalgia are living and not dying of this disorder and positive outlooks and family support are key elements in the management of patients.

Cognitive performance in women with fibromyalgia: A case-control study

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in cognitive skills between women with fibromyalgia and healthy women, and the correlations between functional independence and cognitive limitations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed. Twenty women with fibromyalgia and 20 matched controls participated. Outcomes included the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the Functional Independence Measure, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Gradior^© software. The Student's t-test and the Spearman's rho test were applied to the data.

RESULTS

Women affected required a greater mean time (P < 0.020) and maximum time (P < 0.015) during the attention test than the healthy controls. In the memory test they displayed greater execution errors (P < 0.001), minimal time (P < 0.001) and mean time (P < 0.001) whereas, in the perception tests, they displayed a greater mean time (P < 0.009) and maximum time (P < 0.048). Correlations were found between the domains of the functional independence measure and the cognitive abilities assessed.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with fibromyalgia exhibited a decreased cognitive ability compared to healthy controls, which negatively affected the performance of daily activities, such as upper limb dressing, feeding and personal hygiene. Patients required more time to perform activities requiring both attention and perception, decreasing their functional independence. Also, they displayed greater errors when performing activities requiring the use of memory.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Occupational therapists treating women with fibromyalgia should consider the negative impact of possible cognitive deficits on the performance of daily activities and offer targeted support strategies.

Neurocognitive complaints and functional status among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to conduct a longitudinal examination of cognitive complaints and functional status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) alone and those who also had fibromyalgia (CFS/FM).

METHODS

A total of 93 patients from a tertiary care fatigue clinic were evaluated on four occasions, each 6 months apart. Each evaluation included a tender point assessment, and self-reported functional status and cognitive complaints.

RESULTS

Patients with CFS/FM reported significantly worse physical functioning, more bodily pain, and more cognitive difficulties (visuo-perceptual ability and verbal memory) than patients with CFS alone. Over time, bodily pain decreased only for participants with CFS alone. Verbal memory problems were associated with more bodily pain for both patient groups, whereas visuo-perceptual problems were associated with worse functional status for patients with CFS alone.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to the literature on functional status, longitudinal course, and cognitive difficulties among patients with CFS and those with CFS and FM. The results suggest that patients with CFS/FM are more disabled, have more cognitive complaints, and improve more slowly over time than patients with CFS alone. Specific cognitive difficulties are related to worse functional status, which supports the addition of cognitive difficulties to the FM case criteria.

Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice

Patients with fibromyalgia often report forgetfulness as well as declines in cognitive function, memory, and mental alertness-symptoms that have been termed "fibrofog" in popular and electronic media as well as in professional literature. "Fibrofog" is the subjectively experienced cognitive dysfunction associated with fibromyalgia and is a clinically important yet comparatively less well-studied aspect of the disorder; it includes loss of mental clarity (mental fogginess) as well as attention and memory impairment. Although until recently cognitive symptoms have been largely ignored, these symptoms can be more disturbing than the widespread pain and can change these patients' lives, sometimes dramatically so. Whereas widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness, and fatigue may be the hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia, patients rank cognitive dysfunction highly in terms of disease impact. This review addresses (1) the prevalence of self-reported cognitive disturbances in fibromyalgia, (2) the clinical presentation of fibrofog, (3) neuropsychological test performance, with particular attention to discrepancies between self-report and test results, (3) clinical correlates of impaired cognitive function in fibromyalgia, (4) neurobiology relevant to cognitive disturbances in fibromyalgia, and (5) clinical management of fibrofog. Although the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains an enigma, evidence suggests that it may be a brain disorder, with cognitive deficits ("fibrofog") reflecting disturbed centrally mediated processes.

Unilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex does not affect cognition in patients with fibromyalgia

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) induces changes in neuronal activity that may affect cognition. We assessed cognitive functions, in patients with fibromyalgia participating in a sham-controlled randomized trial of rTMS for pain management. We randomly assigned 38 non depressed fibromyalgia patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) to the active (n = 20) and sham (n = 18) rTMS treatment groups, in a double-blind manner. rTMS was applied to the left primary motor cortex (10 Hz at 80% of rest motor threshold). Neuropsychological tests were performed immediately before stimulation, to evaluate episodic memory, selective and divided attention and executive functions at baseline, week 3 (after 7 rTMS sessions) and week 11 (after 11 rTMS sessions). The actively treated and sham-treated groups were similar in terms of clinical and neuropsychological variables at baseline. No difference in overall neuropsychological performance with respect to baseline was found between these two groups, but a significant improvement over time was observed in the rTMS group, for several measurements of attention/executive function (the Symbol Digit Modalities Test and the Stroop Color Word Test). Unilateral rTMS of the motor cortex over a three-month period did not modify cognitive functions in patients with chronic pain. rTMS may have mild beneficial cognitive effects, but confirmation is required in larger groups of patients.

Development of the Mental Clutter Scale

Mental fog is a core symptom of fibromyalgia. Its definition and measurement are central to an understanding of fibromyalgia-related cognitive disability. The Mental Clutter Scale was designed to measure mental fogginess. In an exploratory factor analysis of two different samples (n=128 and n=170), cognitive symptoms of fibromyalgia loaded on 2 dimensions: cognition and mental clarity. The mental clarity factor comprised 8 items with factor loadings greater than .60 and was named the Mental Clutter Scale. The factor stability of the new scale was good, internal consistency was .95, and test-retest reliability over a median of 5 days was .92. The 8-item scale is a quick measure of mental fog that provides clinicians with information about cognitive functioning in fibromyalgia.

Neurobiology underlying fibromyalgia symptoms

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain, clinical symptoms that include cognitive and sleep disturbances, and other abnormalities such as increased sensitivity to painful stimuli, increased sensitivity to multiple sensory modalities, and altered pain modulatory mechanisms. Here we relate experimental findings of fibromyalgia symptoms to anatomical and functional brain changes. Neuroimaging studies show augmented sensory processing in pain-related areas, which, together with gray matter decreases and neurochemical abnormalities in areas related to pain modulation, supports the psychophysical evidence of altered pain perception and inhibition. Gray matter decreases in areas related to emotional decision making and working memory suggest that cognitive disturbances could be related to brain alterations. Altered levels of neurotransmitters involved in sleep regulation link disordered sleep to neurochemical abnormalities. Thus, current evidence supports the view that at least some fibromyalgia symptoms are associated with brain dysfunctions or alterations, giving the long-held “it is all in your head” view of the disorder a new meaning.

Exercise therapy for fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia syndrome, a chronic condition typically characterized by widespread pain, nonrestorative sleep, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and other somatic symptoms, negatively impacts physical and emotional function and reduces quality of life. Exercise is commonly recommended in the management of people with fibromyalgia, and interest in examining exercise benefits for those with the syndrome has grown substantially over the past 25 years. Research supports aerobic and strength training to improve physical fitness and function, reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, and improve quality of life. However, other forms of exercise (e.g., tai chi, yoga, Nordic walking, vibration techniques) and lifestyle physical activity also have been investigated to determine their effects. This paper highlights findings from recent randomized controlled trials and reviews of exercise for people with fibromyalgia, and includes information regarding factors that influence response and adherence to exercise to assist clinicians with exercise and physical activity prescription decision-making to optimize health and well-being.

Postural control deficits in people with fibromyalgia: a pilot study

Introduction

Postural instability and falls are increasingly recognized problems in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The purpose of this study was to determine whether FM patients, compared to age-matched healthy controls (HCs), have differences in dynamic posturography, including sensory, motor, and limits of stability. We further sought to determine whether postural instability is associated with strength, proprioception and lower-extremity myofascial trigger points (MTPs); FM symptoms and physical function; dyscognition; balance confidence; and medication use. Last, we evaluated self-reported of falls over the past six months.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we compared middle-aged FM patients and age-matched HCs who underwent computerized dynamic posturography testing and completed the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQR) and balance and fall questionnaires. All subjects underwent a neurological and musculoskeletal examination. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and explore the relationships between variables. The relationships between subjective, clinical and objective variables were evaluated by correlation and regression analyses.

Results

Twenty-five FM patients and twenty-seven HCs (combined mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 48.6 ± 9.7 years) completed testing. FM patients scored statistically lower on composite sensory organization tests (primary outcome; P < 0.010), as well as with regard to vestibular, visual and somatosensory ratio scores on dynamic posturography. Balance confidence was significantly different between groups, with FM patients reporting less confidence than HCs (mean ± SD: 81.24 ± 19.52 vs. 98.52 ± 2.45; P < 0.001). Interestingly, 76% to 84% of FM patients had gastrocnemius and/or anterior tibialis MTPs. Postural stability was best predicted by dyscognition, FIQR score and body mass index. Regarding falls, 3 (11%) of 27 HCs had fallen only once during the past 6 months, whereas 18 (72%) of 25 FM patients had fallen at least once. Fifteen FM patients (60%) reported falling at least three times in the past six months.

Conclusions

In this study, we report that middle-aged FM patients have consistent objective sensory deficits on dynamic posturography, despite having a normal clinical neurological examination. Further study is needed to determine prospective fall rates and the significance of lower-extremity MTPs. The development of interventions to improve balance and reduce falls in FM patients may need to combine balance training with exercise and cognitive training.

Oral cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors versus other oral analgesics for acute soft tissue injury: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute soft tissue injuries are common and carry significant societal costs. Cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors (coxibs), non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other analgesics are used to treat acute soft tissue injuries, with ongoing debate about their analgesic efficacy, effects on tissue healing and adverse effects (AEs).

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the evidence comparing oral coxibs with other oral analgesics for acute soft tissue injuries, using the outcomes: pain, swelling, function and AEs.

METHODS

The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro and SPORTDiscus. Further studies were sought through clinical trials registries, dissertations, correspondence with pharmaceutical companies and manual searches of relevant journals. There was no language restriction.

DEFINITIONS

'Coxibs' were defined as drugs that inhibit COX-2 >5-fold more than COX-1; 'acute' was defined as injury occurring within 48 hours of enrollment; 'soft tissue injury' was defined as closed injuries to upper or lower limb soft tissues (ligaments, muscles or tendons).

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials in humans comparing a coxib to a different class of oral analgesic agent for the treatment of acute soft tissue injuries for <30 days, and in which >or=80% of participants met the definition of acute soft tissue injury, were included. Studies were excluded if >20% of participants enrolled had back pain, cervical spine injury, repetitive strain injuries, delayed-onset muscle soreness, fractures, cartilage injury, penetrating wounds or primary inflammatory conditions (tendonitis, bursitis and arthritis). Nine out of 23 (39.1%) potentially relevant studies met the selection criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

A standard form was used to extract data. Included studies were screened by the authors for risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and evidence was graded for quality using the GRADE tool.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Clinical heterogeneity was minimized by application of strict selection criteria. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and meta-analysis was undertaken if appropriate. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was used to assess pain, relative risk (RR) to assess AEs, and Peto odds ratio (OR) to assess return to function.

RESULTS

The nine RCTs evaluated in the meta-analysis included 3060 patients. Coxibs were found to be equal to NSAIDs (day 7+, n = 1884, 100 mm visual analogue scale [VAS]), WMD = 0.18 mm (95% CI -1.76, 2.13), p = 0.85 and tramadol (day 7+, n = 706, 100 mm VAS), WMD = -6.6 mm (95% CI -9.63, -3.47) [single study, difference clinically insignificant] for treating pain after soft tissue injuries. Coxibs had fewer gastrointestinal AEs than NSAIDs, even with short-term use (RR 0.59 [95% CI 0.41, 0.85], p = 0.004) [low quality evidence]. Swelling was measured in two studies with no difference being found between groups, but the presentation of the data was not sufficient to allow further analysis. Coxibs were found to be unlikely to be different to NSAIDs in helping patients return to function (OR 1.0 [95% CI 0.77, 1.3], p = 0.99); however, a single study suggested they may improve time to return to function (moderate quality evidence) and may have fewer AEs than tramadol (very low quality evidence). The risk of serious AEs with both coxibs and NSAIDs in this setting was low (but incompletely defined).

CONCLUSIONS

More studies comparing coxibs with NSAIDs and other analgesics in the setting of acute soft tissue injuries are necessary. A different review methodology would be required to answer the question of cardiovascular risk associated with short-term use of coxibs and NSAIDs.

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic functional illness that presents with widespread musculoskeletal pain as well as a constellation of symptoms including fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, sleep difficulties, stiffness, anxiety, and depressed mood. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia, similar to other functional disorders, requires that organic diseases are not causing the symptoms. Systemic and rheumatic diseases can be ruled out by a patient history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations. Because there are no specific laboratory tests for fibromyalgia, the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria have been used in clinical settings; however, they are not ideal for individual patient diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware of limitations inherent in using tender points in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The multiple symptoms of fibromyalgia often overlap with those of related disorders and may further complicate the diagnosis. One of the most challenging diagnostic dilemmas that clinicians face is distinguishing fibromyalgia from other central pain disorders (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine). Screening questions based on published criteria can be used as a first approach in diagnosing functional illnesses. Numerous studies report a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with fibromyalgia. Therefore, a careful history and evaluation should be taken for the presence of primary mood disturbances. To date, there is no "gold standard" for diagnosing fibromyalgia. Until a better clinical case definition of fibromyalgia exists, all diagnostic criteria should be interpreted with caution, considered rudimentary, and subject to modification.

Fatigue in rheumatologic diseases

Today, fatigue still remains an under-reported symptom in rheumatologic diseases, infrequently addressed by patient and physician. Although not all of the causes of fatigue in rheumatologic diseases have been fully elucidated, recognizing the multifactorial components is essential in formulating targeted, effective treatment strategies. Deconstructing rheumatologic diseases into discrete symptoms such as fatigue in an effort to identify specific causes and formulate targeted treatments remains a daunting task. High-quality RCTs will be required to evaluate the effectiveness of combined pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies, which empirically appear to be the most promising. To date, this research is lacking.

The Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Reported Cognitive Difficulties (Fibrofog) in Patients With Rheumatic Disease With and Without Fibromyalgia

Cognitive dysfunction in patients with rheumatic disease encompasses a range of impairment. Their prevalence, co-occurrence, and impact on symptom severity were assessed in 57 patients with fibromyalgia (FMS) and 57 patients with rheumatic disease without FMS. Information pertaining to memory decline, mental confusion, and speech difficulty was extracted from questions embedded in a health questionnaire and a blind retrospective chart review. Pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, and sleep difficulty were established on a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale. Variables of mental confusion, fatigue, tension, depression, anger, and vigor were assessed using the Profile of Mood States.Compared with the non-FMS sample, patients with FMS complained more often of memory decline (70.2-24.6%), mental confusion (56.1-12.3%), and speech difficulty (40.4-3.5%). Memory decline and mental confusion were coupled more often in patients with FMS (50.9-8.8%). Patients with FMS with this combination of cognitive problems reported more pain (76.0-45.4%), stiffness (79.7-43.7%), fatigue (79.6-52.6%), and disturbed sleep (59.2-36.6%) compared with patients with FMS with memory problems alone. Patients with rheumatic disease substantially differ in cognitive vulnerability, with patients with FMS at considerably higher risk for cognitive difficulty. More importantly, the prevalence of a combined disturbance in memory and mental clarity is high and closely associated with the perception of increased illness severity and diminished mental health in FMS. That this linkage has the possibility of having a great deal to do with an important clinical variant of FMS underscores the need for greater clinical recognition of this underrecognized pattern and for further research.Patients with fibromyalgia frequently report memory and concentration problems, especially if asked about them. Clinicians could judge these complaints as similar to adult attention deficit syndrome and reassure the patient. Trying medication to improve attention and concentration is sensible but untested in fibromyalgia.

Auditory P300 event related potentials and serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment in patients with fibromyalgia

BACKGROUND

The P300 components of auditory event related potentials (ERPs) are objective measures related to information and cognitive processing.

OBJECTIVES

To assess P300 ERPs in female patients with fibromyalgia (FM) in comparison with healthy age matched controls. To investigate the relationship between P300 potentials and pain threshold levels of patients, and subsequent effect of sertraline treatment on P300 potentials.

METHODS

P300 auditory ERPs were studied in 13 untreated female patients with FM and 10 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and education. Pain pressure thresholds and total myalgic scores (TMS) were assessed with an algometer. Patients were evaluated for clinical measures and P300 potentials (recorded from the vertex) at the first visit, and then in the fourth and eighth weeks of sertraline treatment.

RESULTS

Patients with FM had significantly lower P300 amplitudes, but not significantly different P300 latencies, than controls at entry. P300 latencies in patients correlated negatively with TMS (r(s)=-0.79, p<0.01) and P300 amplitudes correlated significantly with TMS (r(s)=0.53, p<0.05). Anxiety and depression scores did not correlate significantly with P300 latencies or amplitudes at the study entry. P300 auditory ERPs had increased amplitudes that had reached nearly the same levels as those of the controls at the eighth week without any significant change in their latencies.

CONCLUSION

The results show reduced P300 amplitudes in patients with FM. Further studies assessing the relationship between P300 ERPs and neuropsychiatric tests are required for better clarification of the clinical relevance of P300 potentials in FM.