The association of major depressive episode and personality traits in patients with fibromyalgia

INTRODUCTION: Personality traits have been associated with primary depression. However, it is not known whether this association takes place in the case of depression comorbid with fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the association between a current major depressive episode and temperament traits (e.g., harm avoidance). METHOD: A sample of 69 adult female patients with fibromyalgia was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview severity of depressive symptomatology with the Beck Depression Inventory, and anxiety symptomatology with the IDATE-state and pain intensity with a visual analog scale. RESULTS: A current major depressive episode was diagnosed in 28 (40.5%) of the patients. They presented higher levels of harm avoidance and lower levels of cooperativeness and self-directedness compared with non-depressed patients, which is consistent with the Temperament and Character Inventory profile of subjects with primary depression. However, in contrast to previous results in primary depression, no association between a major depressive episode and self-transcendence was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight specific features of depression in fibromyalgia subjects and may prove important for enhancing the diagnosis and prognosis of depression in fibromyalgia patients.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Santos,Danyella de Melo, Lage,Lais Verderame, Jabur,Eleonora Kehl, Kaziyama,Helena Hideko Seguchi, Iosifescu,Dan V., Lucia,Mara Cristina Souza de, Fraguas,Renerio
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Faculdade de Medicina / USP 2011
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-59322011000600009
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