Date of Award

2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Rakos, Richard

Subject Headings

Fibromyalgia -- Etiology, Stress (Psychology) -- Physiological aspects, Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, stress

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that is characterized by widespread pain, which occurs in about 2 of the population, and impacts more women than men. This study sought to: 1) determine if stress, pain intensity, and the interference of pain in daily living predict if FM patients are likely to complete the pain rehabilitation program 2) Explore the interrelationship between stress, pain intensity, gender, and the interference of pain in daily living at admission and discharge. This study examined 142 FM patients admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP) from January 2007-August 2010 (84.5 female). Logistic regression results suggest the higher the FM patients stress score, the more likely they are to drop out of the pain rehabilitation program, and the higher the FM patients pain intensity the more likely they are to complete the pain rehabilitation program. The interference of pain in daily living was not a significant predictor. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results suggest there were no significant difference in gender in FM patients' scores on stress, pain intensity, and the interference of pain in daily living at admission or discharge. SEM Results also indicated stress has a moderately positive relationship to pain intensity, and the interference of pain in daily living at admission and discharge in FM patients. It appears while patients with FM can benefit from treatment in a comprehensive CPRP, FM patients with high levels of stress may benefit from additional stress reduction techniques to help control their levels of stress, pain intensity, and the interference of pain in daily living

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