Evaluation of temperament and character (TCI), intrapsychic and interpersonal experiences and depression in women affected by fibromyalgia syndrome: a case-control study

Background: Personality has an important role in understanding fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Aims: In this paper, we explored the association between the clinical course of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and patient’s response to emotional stress in terms of temperament and character and intrapsychic and interpersonal dimensions. Methods: Participants: n=57 women with Fibromyalgia Sindrome; control group: n=203 healthy women. Tests: TCI, SASB (Structural Analysis of Interpersonal Behavior), CDQ and ASQ. Results: FMS Patients presented: medium to high levels of depression (F = 110.702, p < .001); TCI: higher Impulsiveness(NS2) (p < .005); higher Harm avoidance (HA) (p < 0.001); Higher Fear of uncertainty(HA2) ( p < .001); Shyness (HA3) (p = .024); higher Fatigability (HA4) (, p < .001) higher Sentimentality(RD1) (p = .046); lower Persistence (P)(p = .025) lower Eagerness of effort(PS1) (p = .010). lower Ambitious (PS3) (F = 6.481, p = .012) than healthy women; SASB: lower levels of autonomy-Cl1 (p = .037), autonomy and Love-Cl2 (p < .005), Love-Cl3 (p < .005),Love and control-Cl4 (p = .010), than the control group; with higher levels of Control-Cl5(p < .001), Control and hate-Cl6 (p < .001), Hate-Cl7 (p < .001), and Hate and autonomy- Cl8 (p < .001) than healthy women. Conclusions: Intrapsychic characteristics (tendency to depression) may be linked to difficulties in facing illness condition (pain, disabilities). Knowledge of these modalities could allow to plan a psychotherapeutic and multidisciplinary intervention aimed at overcoming the intrapsychic maladaptive modalities.