291: Cognitive Functions and Personality Traits in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Low Back or Cervical Pain

Topic: Clinical Science
Subtopic: Pain category (ICD-11), Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain, Psychology, Assessment and Measurement of Pain/Nociception

Background and Aims: Fibromyalgia is a multifactorial clinical syndrome characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive complaints referred to as “FibroFog,” with significant functional, emotional, and social impact. Studies have investigated alterations in memory, attention, executive functions, and personality traits; however, findings remain heterogeneous, with methodological variability. Most research compares fibromyalgia patients with healthy controls, limiting distinction between syndrome-specific alterations and broader effects of chronic pain. Thus, a gap persists regarding characterization between fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions. This study investigates cognitive performance, personality traits, and emotional dysregulation in fibromyalgia versus chronic cervical or low back pain.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional case-control clinical study with a planned sample of 62 participants (31 with fibromyalgia and 31 with chronic cervical or low back pain). To date, seven participants have been assessed. The investigation includes a structured clinical interview covering physical, sensory, and medical history variables, along with validated and standardized psychological and neuropsychological instruments to assess global cognitive performance, executive functions, personality traits, and emotional dysregulation. Scoring and interpretation are conducted according to each test manual. Assessments occur in four remote and in-person sessions lasting approximately 90 to 100 minutes. Participants receive a research report summarizing their results.

Results: To date, seven female participants have been assessed (four with fibromyalgia and three with chronic cervical or low back pain). Global cognitive performance remained within normative parameters in both groups, with no evidence of structural deficits in executive functions. The fibromyalgia group demonstrated greater systemic and sensory symptom burden, including persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, paresthesia, tremors, hypersensitivity to light and sound, and recurrent tinnitus and auditory discomfort. Personality profiles showed higher negative affect, emotional vulnerability, and ruminative tendencies, with affective dysregulation in part of the sample. One participant showed borderline personality traits and another autism spectrum disorder features.

Conclusions: Preliminary findings do not indicate structural cognitive impairment between evaluated groups. However, fibromyalgia was associated with greater systemic symptom burden, sensory hypersensitivity, and increased emotional vulnerability. These findings suggest that cognitive complaints may be more closely related to the interaction between central sensitization, pain intensity, and emotional regulation than to objective neurocognitive deficits. Investigation of personality traits revealed higher levels of negative affect, ruminative tendencies, and affective dysregulation in the fibromyalgia group, potentially relevant to pain modulation. Ongoing data collection will allow inferential analyses and clearer understanding of clinical specificities between fibromyalgia and chronic cervical or low back pain.

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Presenting Author: Andreza Letícia Faria Silva
Submitting Author: Andreza Letícia Faria Silva

Senior Author: Andreza Letícia Faria Silva

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: Yes

• Marúcia Chacur: Dra. - Universidade de São Paulo
• Hazem Adel Ashmawi: Dr. - University of São Paulo
• Daniela de Souza Coelho: Dra. - University of São Paulo