Interoception in patients with fibromyalgia compared to healthy controls: preliminary results

Abstract

Background: It is hypothesized that interoceptive dysfunctions could be important mechanisms underlying functional syndromes. The aim of our study is to examine interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensitivity, and interoceptive awareness in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy controls (HC).

Methods: The goal is to include 26 patients with FM and 26 HC. All participants will perform the respiratory occlusion discrimination task (ROD-task) to examine interoceptive accuracy, which is quantified as the just noticeable difference (JND) in short inspiratory occlusions. To examine interoceptive sensitivity, all participants fill out the Interoceptive Sensitivity and Attention Questionnaire and the THree-domain Interoceptive Sensations Questionnaire. Interoceptive awareness will be operationalized as the relationship between the correctness of trials on the ROD-task and scores on a visual analogue scale that measures certainty of response.

Results: Participants are currently being recruited and data is being obtained. Preliminary results will be presented at the conference. T-tests will be used to compare the JND’s, the scores on the questionnaires, and interoceptive awareness between the different groups.

Discussion: Defining interoception as an underlying working mechanism of functional syndromes can advance both diagnosis and treatment strategies for this patient group.