Soft Tissue Tenderness and Fibromyalgia Among Schizophrenia Patients.

Soft Tissue Tenderness and Fibromyalgia Among Schizophrenia Patients.

Numerous studies reported on comorbidity of fibromyalgia and psychiatric disorders. Approximately 30% of patients with fibromyalgia have major depression at the time of diagnosis; the lifetime prevalence of depression is 74% and that of an anxiety disorder is 60%. In some fibromyalgia patients, mood and cognitive problems are much more prominent than tenderness. From the psychiatric point of view, 49% of PTSD patients and 5% of major depression patients fulfill criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia.

The association between schizophrenia and fibromyalgia is still unknown.

Study hypothesis Schizophrenia patients, who have an aberrant sensation of pain, have lower prevalence of FM compared to the general population.

Primary objectives

1. Demonstrate that schizophrenia patients have lower prevalence of FM, compared to the general population.
2. To compare the self-reported extent and intensity of pain with selected tender points examination.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women above 18 years of age.
• Patients must meet DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
• A stabled mental state.
• If hospitalized, patients are scheduled for discharge on the basis of clinical assessment of psychiatric symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mental co-morbidity.
• Diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Usage of any pain reliever medications during the week before recruitment.