Romantic Relationships, Fibromyalgia and Persistent Health Problems
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the romantic relationships of people with fibromyalgia and health problems which persist following treatment.
IRAS ID
256103
Contact name
Richard Brown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 7 days
Research summary
Fibromyalgia is a health condition which is characterised by persistent and widespread pain. This pain can have an impact on an individual’s psychological wellbeing and may change how they feel about themselves and those around them. Unfortunately, there is evidence to suggest that many people continue to feel distressed or disabled by their pain despite receiving treatment but there are very few studies which have considered why this may be the case. However, we do know that people with fibromyalgia can experience difficulties in their relationships as a result of their illness e.g. they may feel guilty that their partner has to care for them. There is also evidence to suggest that relationship quality can affect how people cope with, and respond to treatment for, health conditions such as fibromyalgia. It could therefore be possible that some patients do not benefit from current treatment options because they do not target these relationship difficulties. This study seeks to enhance our understanding of the romantic relationships of people with fibromyalgia and health problems which persist following treatment. This may help us to develop interventions for people with fibromyalgia with more of a relational focus.
The participants in this study will be individuals with fibromyalgia who remain distressed or disabled by their pain following treatment. Patients who have previously consented to be contacted about future studies will be invited to take part; posters advertising the study will also be displayed within pain clinic waiting areas. We will then interview up to twenty of these individuals to find out more about their current romantic relationship. The interviews will be recorded and typed up; we will then analyse the transcripts and note emerging themes. We will also ask participants to complete further questionnaires to describe the physical and psychological characteristics of the sample.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0172
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion