Tender points, depressive and functional symptoms: comparison between fibromyalgia and major depression

The degree of symptomatic overlap between fibromyalgia and major depression should be estimated by assessing the amount of local tenderness and the frequency and severity of depressive and functional symptoms. Tender points were assessed by palpation and symptoms by psychometric scales in 30 patient...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical rheumatology 1997-01, Vol.16 (1), p.76-79
Main Authors: Fassbender, K, Samborsky, W, Kellner, M, Müller, W, Lautenbacher, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Depressive Disorder - diagnosis
Depressive Disorder - physiopathology
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Fibromyalgia - diagnosis
Fibromyalgia - physiopathology
Humans
Male
Mental depression
Middle Aged
Pain - physiopathology
Pain Threshold - physiology
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Summary:The degree of symptomatic overlap between fibromyalgia and major depression should be estimated by assessing the amount of local tenderness and the frequency and severity of depressive and functional symptoms. Tender points were assessed by palpation and symptoms by psychometric scales in 30 patients with fibromyalgia and 26 patients with major depression. The patients with fibromyalgia had markedly more tender points (16.5) than the depressive patients (1.3). In contrast, depressive and functional symptoms were present in both groups of patients, and some depressive patients (26%) also suffered from clinical pain. An increased sensitivity to pressure pain clearly distinguishes fibromyalgia from depression even if there is an overlap of other symptoms.
ISSN:0770-3198
1434-9949
DOI:10.1007/BF02238767