Fibromyalgia in Men: Comparison of Psychological Features with Women

MUHAMMAD B. YUNUS, REYHAN CELIKER, and JEAN C. ALDAG

ABSTRACT.

Objective. To describe possible differences in psychological factors in men compared to women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM).

Methods. Forty men and 160 women with FM were evaluated for anxiety, stress, and depression measured by ordinal scales and validated psychological instruments. Clinical and psychological variables were evaluated by a protocol.

Results. Both men and women scored high in the psychological variables measured but the results were not significantly different between them.

Conclusion. There was no significant difference between men and women with FM in their psychological status. (J Rheumatol 2004;31:2464-7)

Key Indexing Terms:

FIBROMYALGIA
PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES
GENDER DIFFERENCE
MALE
PSYCHOLOGY

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From the Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, USA; and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.

M.B. Yunus, MD, Professor of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria; R. Celiker, MD, Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University Medical School; J.C. Aldag, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria.

Address reprint requests to Dr. M.B. Yunus, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, One Illinois Drive, Peoria, IL 61605, USA. E-mail: yunus@uic.edu

Submitted November 17, 2003; revision accepted July 9, 2004.

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