Improvement in pain, fatigue, and subjective sleep quality through sleep hygiene tips in patients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of sleep hygiene instructions for women with fibromyalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy women with fibromyalgia completed the study. The assessment comprised the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a general questionnaire with personal data and lifestyle information. All patients received information about the disease and a sleep diary, but only the experimental group received the sleep hygiene instructions. Patients were asked to practice sleep hygiene, and, after three months, they were reevaluated by use of the same questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age in the control group was 55.2 ±7.12 years, and, in the experimental group, 53.5 ±8.89 years (P = 0.392). The experimental group showed: a decrease in the pain Visual Analogue Scale values (P = 0.028), in fatigue (P = 0.021), and in the PSQI component 1 (P = 0.030); and a significant reduction in the difficulty falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night (P = 0.031). The experimental group also showed an increase in the reporting percentage of "silent environment" (ranging from 42.9% to 68.6%), a decrease in the reporting percentage of "fairly quiet environment" (ranging from 40% to 22.9%), and a decrease in the reporting percentage of "noisy environment" (ranging from 17.1% to 8.6%). These changes facilitated falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. CONCLUSION: The sleep hygiene instructions allowed changing the patients' behavior, which resulted in pain and fatigue improvement, increased subjective quality of sleep, in addition to facilitating falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night.

Melhora da dor, do cansaço e da qualidade subjetiva do sono por meio de orientações de higiene do sono em pacientes com fibromialgia / Improvement in pain, fatigue, and subjective sleep quality through sleep hygiene tips in patients with fibromyalgia

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a efetividade das orientações para higiene do sono em mulheres portadoras de fibromialgia. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Setenta mulheres completaram o estudo. Na avaliação foram aplicados o Questionário de Impacto da Fibromialgia(FIQ), o Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh (PSQI) e um questionário geral, com dados pessoais e informações de hábitos de vida. Todas as pacientes receberam informações quanto à doença, além de um diário do sono, e apenas o grupo-experimental recebeu orientações para higiene do sono. Foi solicitado às pacientes que realizassem a higiene do sono, e as mesmas foram reavaliadas após três meses. RESULTADOS: A idade média das pacientes do grupo-controle foi 55,2 ± 7,12 anos, e a do grupo-experimental foi 53,5 ± 8,89 anos (P = 0,392). Nessas pacientes foram observadas diminuições da medida de Escala Visual Analógica de dor (P = 0,028), de cansaço (P = 0,021) e do componente 1 do PSQI (P = 0,030). O grupo que recebeu orientações para higiene do sono mostrou redução significativa na dificuldade de retorno ao sono quando acordava de madrugada (P = 0,031). O grupo-experimental apresentou aumento na porcentagem de relatos de "ambiente sem ruído" (variando de 42,9% para 68,6%), diminuição da porcentagem de relatos de "ambiente com pouco ruído" (variando de 40% para 22,9%) e diminuição na porcentagem de relatos de "ambiente com muito ruído" (variando de 17,1% para 8,6%). As alterações facilitaram o retorno ao sono quando as pacientes acordavam durante a madrugada. CONCLUSÃO: Uma cartilha com orientações de higiene do sono permitiu a alteração do comportamento das pacientes, que obtiveram melhora da dor e do cansaço, aumento da qualidade subjetiva do sono, além de facilitação do retorno ao sono após despertar durante a madrugada.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of sleep hygiene instructions for women with fibromyalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy women with fibromyalgia completed the study. The assessment comprised the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a general questionnaire with personal data and lifestyle information. All patients received information about the disease and a sleep diary, but only the experimental group received the sleep hygiene instructions. Patients were asked to practice sleep hygiene, and, after three months, they were reevaluated by use of the same questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean age in the control group was 55.2 ±7.12 years, and, in the experimental group, 53.5 ±8.89 years (P = 0.392). The experimental group showed: a decrease in the pain Visual Analogue Scale values (P = 0.028), in fatigue (P = 0.021), and in the PSQI component 1 (P = 0.030); and a significant reduction in the difficulty falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night (P = 0.031). The experimental group also showed an increase in the reporting percentage of "silent environment" (ranging from 42.9% to 68.6%), a decrease in the reporting percentage of "fairly quiet environment" (ranging from 40% to 22.9%), and a decrease in the reporting percentage of "noisy environment" (ranging from 17.1% to 8.6%). These changes facilitated falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night. CONCLUSION: The sleep hygiene instructions allowed changing the patients' behavior, which resulted in pain and fatigue improvement, increased subjective quality of sleep, in addition to facilitating falling asleep after waking up in the middle of the night.

The association of major depressive episode and personality traits in patients with fibromyalgia.

INTRODUCTION: Personality traits have been associated with primary depression. However, it is not known whether this association takes place in the case of depression comorbid with fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the association between a current major depressive episode and temperament traits (e.g., harm avoidance). METHOD: A sample of 69 adult female patients with fibromyalgia was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview severity of depressive symptomatology with the Beck Depression Inventory, and anxiety symptomatology with the IDATE-state and pain intensity with a visual analog scale. RESULTS: A current major depressive episode was diagnosed in 28 (40.5%) of the patients. They presented higher levels of harm avoidance and lower levels of cooperativeness and self-directedness compared with non-depressed patients, which is consistent with the Temperament and Character Inventory profile of subjects with primary depression. However, in contrast to previous results in primary depression, no association between a major depressive episode and self-transcendence was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight specific features of depression in fibromyalgia subjects and may prove important for enhancing the diagnosis and prognosis of depression in fibromyalgia patients.

The association of major depressive episode and personality traits in patients with fibromyalgia

INTRODUCTION: Personality traits have been associated with primary depression. However, it is not known whether this association takes place in the case of depression comorbid with fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the association between a current major depressive episode and temperament traits (e.g., harm avoidance). METHOD: A sample of 69 adult female patients with fibromyalgia was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview severity of depressive symptomatology with the Beck Depression Inventory, and anxiety symptomatology with the IDATE-state and pain intensity with a visual analog scale. RESULTS: A current major depressive episode was diagnosed in 28 (40.5 percent) of the patients. They presented higher levels of harm avoidance and lower levels of cooperativeness and self-directedness compared with non-depressed patients, which is consistent with the Temperament and Character Inventory profile of subjects with primary depression. However, in contrast to previous results in primary depression, no association between a major depressive episode and self-transcendence was found. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight specific features of depression in fibromyalgia subjects and may prove important for enhancing the diagnosis and prognosis of depression in fibromyalgia patients.

Behçet's disease associated with celiac disease: a very rare association.

There are common findings between Behçet's disease (BD) and celiac disease (CD); however, association in the same patient is a rarity. We relate the third case in the literature of this overlap in a 40-year-old woman with history of obstipation since her childhood. She also presented asymmetric polyarthralgia, loss of weight, anemia, oral recurrent aphthas (>3/year) and genital ulcerations, inflammatory lower back pain, bowel bleeding and abdominal colic. Afterwards, she presented episodes of erythema nodosum, superficial thrombophlebitis, pseudofolliculitis and aseptic meningitis, thus fulfilling criteria for BD. Due to persistence of the digestive complaints, a gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. The biopsy showed chronic duodenitis with intraepithelial lymphocytosis, crypt hyperplasia, and villous atrophy. Endomysial antibody was positive. She fulfilled the diagnosis criteria for CD; a gluten-free diet was applied with clinical improvement. Ascertaining whether pathogenic mechanisms are common in these two conditions requires further investigation.

Faraway from the silk route: demographic and clinical features of Behçet's disease in 106 Brazilian patients.

To describe clinical and epidemiological data of Behçet's disease (BD) in Brazil, we retrospectively reviewed records of all patients seen between 2006 and 2007 at the BD outpatient clinic of University of Sao Paulo. One hundred and six patients fulfilled the International Study Group for Behçet's Disease diagnostic criteria and they were included in this study. There was a female/male ratio of 2.2:1 and mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 +/- 9.2 years. In order of frequency, oral (100%) and genital ulcerations (92.5%), pseudofolliculitis (59.4%), erythema nodosum (49.1%), ocular lesions (47.2%), and musculoskeletal complaints (35.8%) were the most common manifestations. Blindness and major vessel involvement (18.2% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.038 and 27.3% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.019) were more frequent among male than female patients. We concluded that in Brazil, a South American country faraway from the Silk Route, BD follows the same pattern exhibited on its usual endemic area.

Behçet's disease: clinical value of the video capsule endoscopy for small intestine examination.

We described a pilot study using Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) aiming the assessment of small bowel in Behçet's disease (BD). Ten patients with BD and abdominal complaints underwent VCE with Given Pillcam SB (Given Imaging Ltd., Yoqneam). VCE revealed small bowel lesions in all ten subjects. Five patients had active symptoms of BD while five others had clinically inactive disease. Jejune was the most frequently affected GI segment being involved in eight cases, four from each group. We suggest that small bowel involvement may be frequent in BD patients, even in the absence of oral ulcerations.

Exercícios de alongamento ativo em pacientes com fibromialgia: efeito nos sintomas e na qualidade de vida / Active stretching exercises in fibromyalgia patients: effects on symptoms and on quality of life

A fibromialgia é caracterizada por dor crônica difusa, pontos dolorosos (tender points) e sintomas associados, com frequente impacto negativo na qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do alongamento ativo nos sintomas de dor, ansiedade, depressão e sono, na flexibilidade e na qualidade de vida de fibromiálgicos...

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread painful sensitivity at tender points and associated symptoms, bearing negative impact in the quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of active stretching exercises on fibromyalgia symptoms (pain, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance), flexibility and quality of life...

Auto-eficácia e sintomas depressivos em doentes com dor crônica / Self-efficacy and depressive symptoms in chronic pain patients

CONTEXTO: Auto-eficácia é a crença na habilidade pessoal de desempenhar com sucesso tarefas ou de apresentar comportamentos para produzir um resultado desejável. É conceito-chave para o adequado controle de doenças crônicas e estudos sobre o tema são incipientes no Brasil. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a crença de auto-eficácia de pacientes com dor crônica e relacioná-la a variáveis sociodemográficas, de características da dor e à presença de sintomas depressivos. MÉTODOS: A amostra, de conveniência, foi de 132 sujeitos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram a Escala de Auto-Eficácia para Dor Crônica (AEDC) e o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (IDB). RESULTADOS: O escore médio de auto-eficácia foi 170,8 (DP = 56,7). Auto-eficácia menor foi observada nos pacientes com até 8 anos de escolaridade, quando comparada à de pacientes com escolaridade entre 9 e 11 anos (p = 0,015). Auto-eficácia mais elevada foi observada nos doentes com dor menos intensa (p = 0,042). A Escala AEDC apresentou correlação negativa com o IDB (r = - 0,48; p < 0,01). CONCLUSÕES: Os doentes com escolaridade de até 8 anos apresentaram auto-eficácia menor que os doentes que tinham entre 9 e 11 anos de escolaridade. Os pacientes com dor menos intensa e os doentes com menos sintomas depressivos apresentaram maior auto-eficácia.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy is the belief about oneÆs personal ability to perform a task or specific behavior successfully. Self-efficacy is a key concept to manage chronic diseases and the studies about it are insufficient in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate chronic pain patientÆs self-efficacy belief and relate to social demographic variables, pain and depressive symptoms. METHODS: The convenience sample was 132 subjects. The instruments utilized were Chronic Pain Self-efficacy Scale (CPSS) in Portuguese version (AEDC) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: The self-efficacy average score was 170.8 (DP = 56.7). Low self-efficacy was observed in 8 year education level patients compared to 9 to 11 year education level (p = 0.015). Higher self-efficacy was observed in patients with lower pain intensity (p = 0.042). The AEDC was negative correlated to IDB depression (r = - 0.48; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with 8 year education level showed low self-efficacy than patients with 9 to 11 year education level. Subjects with lower pain intensity and fewer depressive symptoms showed higher self-efficacy scores.

Imunidade na gestacão normal e na paciente com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) / Immunity in the normal pregnancy and in the patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

A gravidez é uma condicão fisiológica na qual ocorrem várias mudancas imunoendócrinas com a finalidade de facilitar a imunossupressão e a tolerância aos antígenos paternos e fetais. Na gravidez humana normal existe uma relativa supressão de citocinas tipo Th1 na resposta dos linfócitos, levando a uma prevalência na resposta do tipo Th2. No LES, onde prevalece a resposta imune do tipo Th2, a gravidez pode estar relacionada com a ativacão da doenca. Este artigo é uma revisão dessas alteracões relacionadas com a resposta imune durante a gestacão normal e na da paciente com LES.