Coping with Pain by Patients with Fibromyalgia Compared to Healthy Subjects

So far, little is known on whether and to what extent coping with pain in fibromyalgia patients differs to that in healthy persons. A closer examination of this aspect could help to develop specific strategies for coping with pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. N = 438 fibromyalgia patients were matched to healthy controls (n = 312). Data were collected using the German Pain Questionnaire (DSF), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D), the German version of the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES-D), and the questionnaire for assessment of level of coping with pain (FESV). Fibromyalgia patients were significantly more burdened in pain and psychological measures. They also showed a lower self-efficacy than healthy persons. In coping with pain healthy persons showed an increased use of "action planning skills" and "perceived self-competence". In the fields of "mental diversion" and "cognitive restructuring" fibromyalgia patients had a higher score. Good handling of pain seems to be important in disease management.