Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42389185›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease2026

Mapping emotional function in fibromyalgia: integrating alexithymia, pain catastrophizing, and self-compassion.

Francesca Trunfio, Onorina Berardicurti, Rosa Bruni, Damiano Currado, Barbara Biticchi, Erika Corberi, Francesca Saracino, Lyubomyra Kun, Annalisa Marino, Ludovica Lamberti and 16 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

26 authors.

Francesca TrunfioRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4199-6321
Onorina BerardicurtiRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Rosa BruniMindful Self-Compassion Teacher Program, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Damiano CurradoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Barbara BiticchiRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Erika CorberiRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Francesca SaracinoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Lyubomyra KunRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Annalisa MarinoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2511-7374
Ludovica LambertiRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Leonardo FrascàRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Antonio OrlandoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Andrea PilatoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Sebastiano LorussoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Francesco CiminoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra Pia CrocittaRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Dario NejatRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Lorenzo FuscoRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Gianmarco ColucciaRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Swathy JayakrishnanRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Irene GenovaliRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Marta GattiRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Marta VomeroRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Vasiliki LiakouliSection of Rheumatology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Via S. Pansini 5, Edificio 3, Napoli 80131, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7392-9334
Roberto GiacomelliRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Luca NavariniRheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8537-1510

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. Alexithymia-difficulty identifying and describing emotions-has been reported in up to 48% of FM patients and is associated with increased psychological distress and pain intensity, yet its specific contribution to FM remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the interplay among alexithymia, self-compassion, pain catastrophizing, and hope to inform future integrated and emotion-focused treatment strategies for FM. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional investigation, consecutively recruiting 112 Caucasian women meeting the 2016 American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM between October 2023 and June 2024. Methods: Socio-demographic, clinical, and psychometric data were collected at baseline. Disease burden was evaluated using the Widespread Pain Index, Symptom Severity Scale (SSS), Polysymptomatic Distress Scale, modified Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale, and revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-R). Psychological constructs were assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Adult Hope Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Participants were stratified into non-alexithymic, borderline, and alexithymic groups according to TAS-20 thresholds. Group differences were analyzed through χ Results: Alexithymic traits were identified in 51.8% of patients. Individuals with alexithymia exhibited significantly higher anxiety, depression, and total HADS scores (all Conclusion: Alexithymia represents a prominent marker of emotional vulnerability in FM, closely linked to symptom severity, maladaptive pain coping, and reduced hope and self-compassion. Integrating these constructs into FM assessment and management may support more comprehensive, emotion-focused therapeutic approaches.

Indexed as

alexithymiaemotional regulationfibromyalgiamultidisciplinary treatmentpain catastrophizingself-compassion

Identifiers

PMID42389185
PMCPMC13319573

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