Outlining the psychological profile of persistent depression in fibromyalgia patients through Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)

Andrea Doreste , Jesus Pujol, Eva Penelo, Victor Pérez, Laura Blanco Hinojo, Gerard Martinez Vilavella, Helena Pardina-Torner, Fabiola Ojeda, Jordi Monfort Faure, Joan Deus Yela

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex condition marked by increased pain sensitivity and central sensitization. Studies often explore the link between FM and depressive-anxiety disorders, but few focus on dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), which can be more disabling than major depression (MD). Objective. To identify clinical scales and subscales of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) that effectively describe and differentiate the psychological profile of PDD, with or without comorbid MD, in FM patients with PDD previously dimensionally classified by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III). Method. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 66 women (mean age 49.18, SD=8.09) from Hospital del Mar. The PAI, the MCMI-III, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) were used to assess the sample. Results. The PAI showed strong discriminative ability in detecting PDD, characterized by high scores in cognitive and emotional depression, and low scores in identity alteration, dominance, and grandeur. High scores in cognitive, emotional, and physiological depression, identity alteration, cognitive anxiety, and suicidal ideation, along with low scores in dominance and grandeur, were needed to detect MD with PDD. Discriminant analysis could differentiate 69.6-73.9% of the PDD group and 84.6% of the PDD+MD group. Group comparisons showed that 72.2% of patients with an affective disorder by PAI were correctly classified in the MCMI-III affective disorder group, and 70% without affective disorder were correctly classified. Conclusions. The PAI effectively identifies PDD in FM patients and detects concurrent MD episodes, aiding in better prognostic and therapeutic guidance.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages16
JournalEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Volume15
Issue number1
Early online date6 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jan 2025

Keywords

  • MCMI-III
  • Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)
  • dysthymia
  • fibromyalgia
  • major depression
  • psychopathology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Outlining the psychological profile of persistent depression in fibromyalgia patients through Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this