Men and women with fibromyalgia: Relation between attentional function and clinical symptoms. (29th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miró, Elena; Martínez, María P.; Sánchez, Ana I.; Prados, Germán; Lupiáñez, Juan
• Is Part Of: British journal of health psychology. Volume 20:Part 3(2015)
• Page Start: 632
• Page End: 647
• Publication Date: 2014-12-29
• Subjects: Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-107X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bjhp12128-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="bjhp12128-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study was the first to explore whether individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) have different cognitive alterations (i.e., in alertness, orienting, and executive control) depending on their sex. We also analysed possible gender differences in the relationships between cognitive functioning and some of the main symptoms of FM.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp12128-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional study.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp12128-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Two clinical groups with FM (<italic>n</italic> = 58 women and <italic>n</italic> = 20 men) and two healthy control groups (<italic>n</italic> = 21 women and <italic>n</italic> = 27 men) aged between 30 and 60 years old participated in this study. Pain intensity, sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and daily functioning were evaluated with self‐report measures. Attentional function was assessed with the ANT‐I task (Attentional Network Test‐Interactions).</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp12128-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Mixed ANOVAs showed impairment in vigilance and executive control in both male and female patients with FM compared with controls. Control men were faster than control women, but FM eliminated sex differences. In addition, attention deficit was associated with worse daily functioning in women but not in men with FM. Emotional distress and sleep disruption seemed to contribute differently to these cognitive alterations in both sexes.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp12128-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Therapy strategies aimed at reducing emotional distress and sleep disruption are likely to improve cognitive function by enhancing vigilance. Therapies aimed at reducing emotional distress seem to improve attentional function more in women than in men; those aimed at improving sleep quality are likely to reduce a vigilance/alertness deficit in women and executive problems in men.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjhp12128-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <p> <boxed-text content-type="box" id="bjhp12128-blkfxd-0001" position="anchor" orientation="portrait"> <label>Statement of contribution</label> <p> <italic> <bold>What is already known on this subject?</bold> </italic> </p> <p>As the prevalence of FM is much lower in males than females, the literature about the syndrome has developed focusing basically on women. Before determining whether sex is an influential variable in the diagnosis and treatment of FM, it is essential to identify the characteristics of FM in women and men. No studies have analysed the cognitive function of men with FM.</p> <p> <italic> <bold>What does this study add?</bold> </italic> </p> <p>This study provides insight on the cognitive function of men with FM. We also found several interesting relationships between attentional indexes and clinical symptoms that are different according to sex. We suggest several implications of our findings for the management of this syndrome.</p> </boxed-text> </p> </sec> </abstract>