Perceived and endocrine acute and chronic stress indicators in fibromyalgia syndrome

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness and closely associated with high levels of stress. FMS is therefore often considered a stress-related disease. A comparative study was conducted with 99 individuals diagnosed with FMS and a control group of 50 pain-free individuals. Stress indicators were classified into three categories: perceived stress assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, and daily average salivary cortisol and hair cortisol concentrations as indicators of acute and chronic stress levels related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Analysis of variance and covariance were used to identify group differences and the influence of covariates age, sex, and body mass index. Correlational analyses further elucidated the relationship between stress indicators and clinical symptoms. Participants with FMS reported significantly higher perceived stress levels than controls (p < .001, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.3), which were positively correlated with symptom burden (r = .41, p < .001). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the endocrinological stress indicators salivary and hair cortisol between the groups (p > .05), nor were these indicators associated with clinical symptoms. The study highlights the central role of perceived stress in FMS, whereas endocrinological indicators did not differentiate FMS from controls. This finding calls for a nuanced approach to clinical assessment and therapeutic interventions tailored to patients with FMS, emphasizing the management of perceived stressors.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Reports
Published
2024-12-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76635-z
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.93

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article

Perceived and endocrine acute and chronic stress indicators in fibromyalgia syndrome

Tim Schmidt, Michael Hopp, Kristian Kleinke, Julian Reichert et al.
5 citations
Scientific Reports
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
1.93
article

Perceived and endocrine acute and chronic stress indicators in fibromyalgia syndrome

Tim Schmidt, Michael Hopp, Kristian Kleinke, Julian Reichert, Jonas Tesarz, Eva Beiner, Ulrich Reininghaus, Herta Flor, Wolfgang Eich, Anita Schick, Martin Löffler, Annette Löffler, Stephanie Vock, Christian Ruckes, Sebastian Keil, Leonie Ader, Michelle Hermes, Hans‐Christoph Friederich, Jürgen Hesser, Andrei Sirazitdinov
article en
5 citations

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness and closely associated with high levels of stress. FMS is therefore often considered a stress-related disease. A comparative study was conducted with 99 individuals diagnosed with FMS and a control group of 50 pain-free individuals. Stress indicators were classified into three categories: perceived stress assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, and daily average salivary cortisol and hair cortisol concentrations as indicators of acute and chronic stress levels related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Analysis of variance and covariance were used to identify group differences and the influence of covariates age, sex, and body mass index. Correlational analyses further elucidated the relationship between stress indicators and clinical symptoms. Participants with FMS reported significantly higher perceived stress levels than controls (p < .001, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.3), which were positively correlated with symptom burden (r = .41, p < .001). In contrast, there were no significant differences in the endocrinological stress indicators salivary and hair cortisol between the groups (p > .05), nor were these indicators associated with clinical symptoms. The study highlights the central role of perceived stress in FMS, whereas endocrinological indicators did not differentiate FMS from controls. This finding calls for a nuanced approach to clinical assessment and therapeutic interventions tailored to patients with FMS, emphasizing the management of perceived stressors.

Scientific ReportsVol. 14(1)
King's College London (GB), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE), University of Siegen (DE), Heidelberg University (DE), University Hospital Heidelberg (DE), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE), Central Institute of Mental Health (DE), German Center for Infection Research (DE), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance (DE), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (DE), Heidelberg University (US), RWTH Aachen University (DE)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
1.93
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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