Subtypes of patients with fibromyalgia, psychopathological characteristics and quality of life

Abstract

Introduction. The main goal of this work was to identify subgroups of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) by means of a frequently used clinical tool, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). 

Methodology. A total of 66 women diagnosed with FM participated in the study. Two subgroups of patients were identified by analysis of a hierarchical cluster of selected items from the FIQ (pain, fatigue, morning tiredness, stiffness, anxiety and depressive symptoms). 

Results. The type I FM-group had very high levels of fatigue, morning tiredness and anxiety, and high levels of joint stiffness, pain and depressive symptoms, while the type II FM-group had predominantly moderate levels of fatigue and morning tiredness, with moderate low levels of pain and stiffness along with a low level of depression and anxiety. 

Conclusions. Type I FM-group also had lower healthrelated quality of life, especially through emotional reactions and social isolation as well as more psychopathological affections than presented by type II FM-group.