TY - JOUR
T1 - Distinctive personality profiles of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome patients
AU - Ablin, Jacob N.
AU - Zohar, Ada H.
AU - Zaraya-Blum, Reut
AU - Buskila, Dan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Ablin et al.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Objective: The current study is an innovative exploratory investigation, aiming at identifying differences in personality profiles within Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients. Method: In total, 344 participants (309 female, 35 male) reported suffering from FMS and/or CFS and consented to participate in the study. Participants were recruited at an Israeli FM/CFS patient meeting held in May 2013, and through an announcement posted on several social networks. Participants were asked to complete a research questionnaire, which included FMS criteria and severity scales, and measures of personality, emotional functioning, positivity, social support and subjective assessment of general health. In total, 204 participants completed the research questionnaire (40.7% attrition rate). Results: A cluster analysis produced two distinct clusters, which differed significantly on psychological variables, but did not differ on demographic variables or illness severity. As compared to cluster number 2 (N = 107), participants classified into cluster number 1 (N = 97) showed a less adaptive pattern, with higher levels of Harm Avoidance and Alexithymia; higher prevalence of Type D personality; and lower levels of Persistence (PS), Reward dependence (RD), Cooperation, Self-directedness (SD), social support and positivity. Conclusion: The significant pattern of results indicates at least two distinct personality profiles of FM and CFS patients. Findings from this research may help improve the evaluation and treatment of FM and CFS patients, based on each patient's unique needs, psychological resources and weaknesses, as proposed by the current trend of personalized medicine.
AB - Objective: The current study is an innovative exploratory investigation, aiming at identifying differences in personality profiles within Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients. Method: In total, 344 participants (309 female, 35 male) reported suffering from FMS and/or CFS and consented to participate in the study. Participants were recruited at an Israeli FM/CFS patient meeting held in May 2013, and through an announcement posted on several social networks. Participants were asked to complete a research questionnaire, which included FMS criteria and severity scales, and measures of personality, emotional functioning, positivity, social support and subjective assessment of general health. In total, 204 participants completed the research questionnaire (40.7% attrition rate). Results: A cluster analysis produced two distinct clusters, which differed significantly on psychological variables, but did not differ on demographic variables or illness severity. As compared to cluster number 2 (N = 107), participants classified into cluster number 1 (N = 97) showed a less adaptive pattern, with higher levels of Harm Avoidance and Alexithymia; higher prevalence of Type D personality; and lower levels of Persistence (PS), Reward dependence (RD), Cooperation, Self-directedness (SD), social support and positivity. Conclusion: The significant pattern of results indicates at least two distinct personality profiles of FM and CFS patients. Findings from this research may help improve the evaluation and treatment of FM and CFS patients, based on each patient's unique needs, psychological resources and weaknesses, as proposed by the current trend of personalized medicine.
KW - Chronic fatigue syndrome
KW - Fibromyalgia
KW - Psycho-biological model of temperament and character
KW - Type D personality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991677073&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7717/peerj.2421
DO - 10.7717/peerj.2421
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
AN - SCOPUS:84991677073
SN - 2167-8359
VL - 2016
JO - PeerJ
JF - PeerJ
IS - 9
M1 - e2421
ER -