Coping Styles, Anger, Social Support, and Suicide Risk of Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that fibromyalgia [FMS] patients have certain personality characteristics. The objective of the present study was to examine a number of personality traits in these patients. Methods: Four groups of female patients participated in the study, 51 FMS patients, 51 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 50 lower back patients and 50 healthy women. The participants were administered a battery of self-report paper-and-pencil instruments measuring coping styles, state and trait anger, suicide risk, and social support. Results: The results showed that the personality traits studied here were similar between the three chronic pain patient groups. These patients scored significantly higher in the coping style of avoidance and on the measure of anger than the healthy women. Concerning the other variables no differences were observed. Specifically, the FMS group did not differ significantly from the other patient groups on any of the variables. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the specific personality traits studied here are not relevant for the FMS and other traits have to be examined.