Open AccessWeather, beliefs about weather, and disease severity among patients with fibromyalgia
Author(s) -
Hagglund Kristofer J.,
Deuser William E.,
Buckelew Susan P.,
Hewett John,
Kay Donald R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1790070306
Subject(s) - fibromyalgia , visual analogue scale , medicine , checklist , physical therapy , distress , emotional distress , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , anxiety , cognitive psychology
Objective. This investigation 1) examined the relationships among actual weather, disease severity, and symptoms for individuals with fibromyalgia, 2) assessed subjects' beliefs about weather affecting their symptoms, and 3) examined differences between individuals with high and low “weather sensitivity.” Methods. Eighty‐four individuals meeting Yunus' criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia participated. Subjects completed the Weather and Pain Questionnaire (WPQ), the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS), the Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised (SCL‐90‐R), and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) assessing pain. A tender point index and a myalgic score were also obtained. Results. Subjects reported that weather affected musculoskeletal symptoms predominantly. The strongest relationship was found between weather beliefs and self‐reported pain scores. Subjects with high weather sensitivity tended to have more functional impairment and psychological distress. Conclusions. Individuals with fibromyalgia believe that weather worsens their symptoms, but it is unlikely that physiologic changes are associates with actual weather.