Re: RESEARCH - Prevalence of abuse in fibromyalgia and other rheumatic disorders at a specialized clinic in rheumatic diseases in Guatemala City

[Guest guest]

Group,

I was 24 when I was diagnosed w/ RA. A few months before, I was hit by a car

while on my bike. It wasn't too bad, a few bruises and a small cut where all

that I suffered. My rheumy didn't think that the accident triggered my RA. I am

the only person in my immedate family with RA. I had a great aunt w/ rheumatism

and a distant cousin w/ FMS. I can only speak for myself. I wasn't abused as a

child. My mom wasn't alwasys there and I was raised by my grandparents; when I

was a teenager, I had a physical and verbal abusive boyfriend. I don't know that

would be considered child abuse since I was a teen. It's something I will ask my

rheumy at my next visit.

>

> J Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Jun;11(3):140-5

>

>

> Prevalence of abuse in fibromyalgia and other rheumatic disorders at a

> specialized clinic in rheumatic diseases in Guatemala City.

>

>

> Castro I, Barrantes F, Tuna M, Cabrera G, C, Recinos M,

> Espinoza LR, -Kutzbach A.

> Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana,

USA.

>

>

> BACKGROUND: The importance of past adverse experiences is increasingly

> recognized in patients with rheumatic disease.

>

> OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to study the association of

> physical, verbal, and sexual abuse in patients with rheumatic

> disorders as compared with healthy volunteers.

>

> METHODS: In this case-control study, 500 new patients attending an

> outpatient rheumatic clinic were interviewed from September 1, 1999,

> to August 31, 2001. A total of 187 patients with 3 diagnoses were

> selected: 58 had fibromyalgia (FM), 74 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and

> 55 patients with soft tissue rheumatic disease (STRD). All selected

> patients were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to obtain

> information regarding demographics and history of verbal, physical,

> and sexual abuse. A group of 187 healthy control subjects were also

> included, matched for sex and age.

>

> RESULTS: The prevalence of abuse was significantly more common in the

> rheumatic disease group than in the control group (48.1% versus 15%, P

> < 0.001). The prevalence of abuse among the groups was as follows:

> 70.7% of patients with FM reported abuse (24.3% verbal, 60.9%

> physical, and 14.8% sexual), 35.1% of patients with RA had a history

> of abuse (42.3% verbal, 30.7% physical, and 0% sexual), whereas 41.8%

> of patients with STRD reported abuse (43.4% verbal, 43.4% physical,

> and 0% sexual). When comparing the 3 groups, patients with FM showed a

> higher prevalence of abuse (P < 0.05). The abuse was usually

> longstanding (range, 1-10 years), and most abusers were close family

> members.

>

> CONCLUSION: Abuse, both physical and psychologic, was significantly

> increased in our rheumatic disease population, especially in patients

> with FM. Further studies are needed to fully establish its role.

> Questions about abuse may provide important information relative to

> care of our patients.

>

>

> PMID: 16357732

>

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16357732

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

[Guest guest]

When all else fails, I'll just sulk and mutter " correlation doesn't equal

causation. "

Kate f

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 10, 2009, at 3:24 PM,

<Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...> wrote:

J Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Jun;11(3):140-5

Prevalence of abuse in fibromyalgia and other rheumatic disorders at a

specialized clinic in rheumatic diseases in Guatemala City.

Castro I, Barrantes F, Tuna M, Cabrera G, C, Recinos M,

Espinoza LR, -Kutzbach A.

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

BACKGROUND: The importance of past adverse experiences is increasingly

recognized in patients with rheumatic disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to study the association of

physical, verbal, and sexual abuse in patients with rheumatic

disorders as compared with healthy volunteers.

METHODS: In this case-control study, 500 new patients attending an

outpatient rheumatic clinic were interviewed from September 1, 1999,

to August 31, 2001. A total of 187 patients with 3 diagnoses were

selected: 58 had fibromyalgia (FM), 74 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and

55 patients with soft tissue rheumatic disease (STRD). All selected

patients were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to obtain

information regarding demographics and history of verbal, physical,

and sexual abuse. A group of 187 healthy control subjects were also

included, matched for sex and age.

RESULTS: The prevalence of abuse was significantly more common in the

rheumatic disease group than in the control group (48.1% versus 15%, P

< 0.001). The prevalence of abuse among the groups was as follows:

70.7% of patients with FM reported abuse (24.3% verbal, 60.9%

physical, and 14.8% sexual), 35.1% of patients with RA had a history

of abuse (42.3% verbal, 30.7% physical, and 0% sexual), whereas 41.8%

of patients with STRD reported abuse (43.4% verbal, 43.4% physical,

and 0% sexual). When comparing the 3 groups, patients with FM showed a

higher prevalence of abuse (P < 0.05). The abuse was usually

longstanding (range, 1-10 years), and most abusers were close family

members.

CONCLUSION: Abuse, both physical and psychologic, was significantly

increased in our rheumatic disease population, especially in patients

with FM. Further studies are needed to fully establish its role.

Questions about abuse may provide important information relative to

care of our patients.

PMID: 16357732

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16357732

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

Kate,

I do share your concern about people blaming themselves or others

blaming them for their disease.

Not an MD

On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 3:45 PM, Kate Fair<kalfoley@...> wrote:

> When all else fails, I'll just sulk and mutter " correlation doesn't equal

causation. "

>

> Kate f

[Guest guest]

Hi, . There don't seem to be many recent studies on this topic,

so it's hard to draw conclusions.

Not an MD

On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 3:32 PM, <man_u8@...> wrote:

> Group,

>

> I was 24 when I was diagnosed w/ RA.  A few months before, I was hit by a car

while on my bike. It wasn't too bad, a few bruises and a small cut where all

that I suffered. My rheumy didn't think that the accident triggered my RA. I am

the only person in my immedate family with RA. I had a great aunt w/ rheumatism

and a distant cousin w/ FMS.  I can only speak for myself. I wasn't abused as a

child. My mom wasn't alwasys there and I was raised by my grandparents; when I

was a teenager, I had a physical and verbal abusive boyfriend. I don't know that

would be considered child abuse since I was a teen. It's something I will ask my

rheumy at my next visit.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I've stayed up late at night, pacing the floor, worried with who I could

blame. He may look innocent and harmless but that sock monkey is eveil I tell

ya, evil!

Stan

Subject: Re: [ ] RESEARCH - Prevalence of abuse in fibromyalgia and

 other rheumatic disorders at a specialized clinic in rheumatic diseases in

 Guatemala City

Kate,

I do share your concern about people blaming themselves or others

blaming them for their disease.

Not an MD

On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 3:45 PM, Kate Fair<kalfoley@...> wrote:

> When all else fails, I'll just sulk and mutter " correlation doesn't equal

causation. "

>

> Kate f

[Guest guest]

Hi all - I've stayed quiet on this subject for a bit as I've mulled it over in

my mind and this is what I've come up with: I can blame specific people for what

they've put me through all my life, but ultimately, it is how my body has

handled these things that have caused the greatest stress.

So - what if the prevalence of abuse in AI disorders is related more to how the

individual copes with it rather than what was done to them? That would take it

all back to seratonin, epinephrine and other chemical levels within the person

and their own individual body's response to these stressors.

I've been to hell and back several times throughout my life and I can pinpoint

the main onset of my symptoms to a culmination events surrounding the years

since 2001. So, what if my body hasn't been able to keep up (chemically) with

all the stress over the years and the major cumulative events since 2001 just

pushed it over the edge? Not any kind of mental or emotional breakdown, but a

physical one.

This seems to make more sense to me. For example, if we abuse our vehicle, push

it to the max on a regular basis and the chemicals responsible for keeping it

running smoothly are insufficient, what's going to happen? It'll break down,

right? IMHO, that could also stand to reason with our bodies.

The chemicals responsible for keeping us running smoothly are insufficient to

handle the stresses placed on our bodies and therefore, we eventually break

down.....Just my thoughts.....Doreen

>

> Kate,

>

> I do share your concern about people blaming themselves or others

> blaming them for their disease.

>

>

>

> Not an MD