(212) A Longitudinal Study in Fibromyalgia: Pain and Functioning from Adolescence to Adulthood

Juvenile Fibromyalgia (JFM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, sleep difficulties, multiple tender points, and fatigue. In our ongoing longitudinal follow-up study, the majority of participants with JFM continue to report persistent and adverse physical and psychosocial outcomes. However, little is known about the long-term course of JFM and the effects of associated symptoms during young adulthood. This study aimed to examine the long-term physical and psychosocial trajectories of patients with JFM as they transition into young adulthood. Participants (n=44) were assessed at three time points (Mage1 = 20.5, SD = 2.21; Mage2 = 22.9, SD = 1.88; Mage3 = 24.8, SD = 2.18) during the follow-up study and reported on anxiety, depression, physical functioning and average pain intensity. Average time elapsed between the first and last follow-up assessment was 4.64 years. Patients reported moderate levels of anxiety and mild levels of depression on the BAI and BDI, respectively (MBAI = 23.4, SD = 14.2; MBDI = 14.08, SD = 10.9 respectively) as well as poor physical functioning (MSF-36 = 43.11, SD = 11.0) on the SF-36 at the final assessment and showed no change over time from their initial follow-up assessment. However, participants did report a decrease in average pain intensity (F (2, 86) = 3.12; p<.05) from their initial follow-up assessment to the end of study (Mpain1 = 4.56, SD = 1.93; Mpain3 = 3.64, SD = 2.61). Results from this longitudinal follow-up study revealed that patients with JFM continue to experience elevated levels of anxiety and depression combined with increased physical impairment as young adults despite a decrease in their average pain intensity over time. Symptoms associated with JFM seem to be chronic, and therefore, early and effective interventions are needed to improve patients’ long-term outcomes. Funded by NIAMS Grant R01 AR054842-01A2.