BMJ 1994;309:1232 (5 November)

Letters

Tender points in fibromyalgia

EDITOR, - Peter Croft and colleagues contend that tender points in fibromyalgia are associated with depression.1 This conclusion is based on their use of the 12 item general health questionnaire as a measure of depression. This questionnaire, however, is not a screening instrument for depression; it is used to detect psychiatric disorder, which can include depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.2

The findings obtained with the general health questionnaire are consistent with the conclusion that tender points are associated with psychiatric disorder. This is consistent with the main point of the paper, which is that tender points are a measure of general distress.

J D Sheehan 

York Clinic, London SE1 1NP.

  1. Croft P, Schollum J, Silman A. Population study of tender point counts and pain as evidence of fibromyalgia. BMJ 1994;309:696-9. (17 September.) [Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Goldberg D. Manual of the general health questionnaire. Windsor: NFER-Nelson, 1978.

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Relevant Article

Population study of tender point counts and pain as evidence of fibromyalgia
P Croft, J Schollum, and A Silman
BMJ 1994 309: 696-699. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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