Suicidal ideation prevalent in patients with fibromyalgia

(HealthDay)—Suicidal ideation is prevalent among patients with fibromyalgia and is strongly associated with mental health, according to a study published in the February issue of Pain Practice.

Elena P. Calandre, M.D., from the Universidad de Granada in Spain, and colleagues examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation among patients with fibromyalgia. Baseline data were obtained for 373 fibromyalgia patients. The researchers compared scores on outcome measures including the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Short Form-12 Health Survey among patients with and without suicidal ideation.

The researchers found that 48 percent of the patients reported suicidal ideation; 39.7 percent reported passive suicidal ideation, and 8.3 percent reported active suicidal ideation. There were strong correlations for suicidal ideation with depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and global mental health. Weak correlations were seen for suicidal ideation with pain and general physical health.

"Our results suggest that suicidal ideation is highly prevalent among severely affected fibromyalgia patients and that it is associated more with mental than with physical symptomatology," the authors write.