Childhood Trauma in Spanish Women with Fibromyalgia and Depression

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with chronic widespread pain and high rates of pain sensitization, which are typical of fibromyalgia (FM), and with FM itself. The present investigation was twofold: it analyzed the prevalence of single types and cumulative types of CT in a Spanish sample of women diagnosed with FM with depressive symptoms. Methods: A reanalysis of data gathered at baseline for a randomized clinical trial of treatment methods for depression in 104 women with FM and depressive symptoms was conducted using the reanalysis data of the self-reported Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form before treatment. Results: This study included higher and lower thresholds for identifying CT. Prevalence varied according to the threshold used; lower thresholds highlighted emotional neglect (52%) as higher than all other single subscales, followed by emotional abuse (42%), sexual abuse (42%), physical neglect (30%), and physical abuse (27%). At higher thresholds, emotional abuse was the highest (37%), followed by sexual abuse (31%), physical neglect (30%), physical abuse (27%), and emotional neglect (26%). Conclusions: This study’s results show that CT assessment is a necessary component of intake protocols for patients with FM.