High Levels of Empathic Concern in Fibromyalgia Patients

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Published Jan 21, 2022
DOI https://doi.org/10.17981/JACN.2.2.2021.04

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Deborah Leyton-Hernández
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2743-8144
Lisandro-Heber Vales-Motta
Motta

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome that is characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, and sleep, cognitive and mood disorders. From a clinical standpoint, these patients have excessive concern for others, which is related to their empathic capacity. There are few studies on social cognition in FM. The objective of this research is to study the relationship between empathic capacity and the symptomology and impact of fibromyalgia on people diagnosed with this syndrome. Twenty-two women diagnosed with FM, residing in Maldonado department of Uruguay, participated in the study. They range between the ages of 29 and 69 years, with the average being 54 +–10.4 years of age. The relationship between FM and empathy was studied with Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). High scores were observed in all of the domains of empathy. Relationships were found indicating that: 1) the greater the fantasy, the lower the overall impact of FM; 2) the greater the personal distress, the greater the FM symptomatology. People with FM present high empathic capacity; and empathic concern stands out as a primary dimension of empathy. Fantasy seems to be a buffer in FM. High levels of personal distress are associated with increased symptomatology of Fibromyalgia.

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How to Cite
Leyton-Hernández, D., & Vales-Motta, L.-H. (2022). High Levels of Empathic Concern in Fibromyalgia Patients. Journal of Applied Cognitive Neuroscience, 2(2), e00223851. https://doi.org/10.17981/JACN.2.2.2021.04
Issue
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2021): July - December
Section
Original Article
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