Abstract

The goal was to find differences among fibromyalgic patients (FM), rheumatoid illness patients, and a healthy control group (n = 15 ea). The variables tested among each group were pain, depressive symptoms, anxiety, coping strategies, and childhood maltreatment. A discriminant analysis was made, obtaining two functions of high levels of fit. Patients with FM and rheumatoid illness showed equal levels of pain; however, patients with FM experienced more childhood maltreatment, currently experiencing more depression, less anxiety symptoms, and coping strategies. These functions correctly classified 53.3% of patients with FM and 60.0% of the other two groups; versus 33.3% expected at random. It is expected that by including sexual abuse in childhood and helplessness in clinical reports, improves the ability to detect patients with FM.