Disability and the Dimensions of Distress in Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objectives: Persons with fibromyalgia frequently report work and functional disabilty. Increasingly, courts, insurance companies, Worker's Compensation agencies, and the Social Security Administration are called upon to adjudicate and compensate claims of work disability for those with fibromyalgia. Physicians and other health care workers are asked to supply information regarding disease severity and work ability. Yet few data or guidelines exist to carry out this task. Findings: This report reviews the relationship between pain, psychological distress and other aspects of the fibromyalgia syndrome and functional and work disability; and reviews the concept of work disability in fibromyalgia, including putative causal relationships, methods of disability determination and reporting, and data concerning actual disability awards. Conclusions: Methods for documenting functional and severity status in fibromyalgia are suggested, and should be helpful at a practical level. But it should be realized that the reliability and validity of such measures in fibromyalgia within the context of work disability have not been established.

KEYWORDS:

• Fibromyalgia
• disability
• dysfunction
• compensation