Convergent validity of the central sensitization inventory in women with fibromyalgia: Association with clinical, psychological and psychophysical outcomes

Background To assess the relationship between demographic, clinical, psychological and pressure pain sensitivity outcomes with the central sensitization inventory (CSI) in female with fibromyalgia (FMS). Methods One hundred and twenty‐six (n = 126) females with FMS completed demographic (age, body mass index, height, weight), clinical (pain history, pain intensity at rest and during daily living activities), psychological (depression/anxiety levels) outcomes and widespread pressure pain sensitivity as well as the central sensitization inventory (CSI). After conducting a multivariable correlation analysis to identify the association between variables, a multiple linear regression model was performed to identify CSI predictors. Results The CSI was negatively associated with age (r = −0.262) and PPTs (r ranged from −0.221 to −0.372) and positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.541), depression (r = 0.415), mean intensity (r = 0.305), worst pain (r = 0.249) and pain during daily living activities (r = 0.398). The stepwise regression analysis revealed that 47.4% of CSI variance in this sample was explained by anxiety levels (27.8%), PPT at greater trochanter (10.5%), age (1.4%), years with pain (4.8%) and pain during daily living activities (2.9%). Conclusion The current study found that age, pain intensity at rest and pain during daily living activities, anxiety levels and pressure pain sensitivity are associated with the CSI (associated sensitization symptoms) in women with FMS. Significance This study found that sensitization‐associated symptoms in women with FMS are partially influenced by age, pain intensity at rest and pain during daily living activities, anxiety levels and pressure pain sensitivity.