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Background

On pathophysiologic grounds, fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by a deficit in diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC), but the role of depressive symptoms on these mechanisms has not been investigated. We hypothesized that the deficit in pain inhibition would be more pronounced in FM patients with depressive symptoms (FM+ D), relative to patients without such symptoms (FM− D).

Methods

Fifty-two women diagnosed with FM (American College of Rheumatology criteria) and 10 healthy women participated in this study. Thermal stimuli were used to measure pain thresholds and DNIC efficacy (spatial summation paradigm). Clinical pain was measured using visual analog scales.

Results

We found that the amplitude of DNIC was smaller in FM+ D patients, relative to the FM− D group; and that daily pain (unpleasantness) was higher in the FM+ D group, relative to FM− D patients.

Discussion

We found …