The Spanish version of the FibroFatigue Scale: validation of a questionnaire for the observer’s assessment of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To examine some of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the FibroFatigue Scale (FFS).

METHODS: FFS was administered to 120 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Internal consistency was evaluated by using Cronbach’s alpha, test-retest reliability with weighted kappa and construct validity by correlations among FFS, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The interrater reliability was tested using analysis of variance with patients and raters as independent factors.

RESULTS: Internal consistency (alpha) was .88, test-retest reliability was .91, and interrater reliability was .93. Significant correlations were obtained between overall FFS and the FIQ (.55, P<.01), the EQ-5D (-.48, P<.01) and the HADS depression subscale (.25, P<.01), but not with the HADS anxiety subscale.

CONCLUSION: These results support the reliability and validity of the data obtained with the Spanish version of the FSS.

 

Source: García-Campayo J, Pascual A, Alda M, Marzo J, Magallon R, Fortes S. The Spanish version of the FibroFatigue Scale: validation of a questionnaire for the observer’s assessment of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2006 Mar-Apr;28(2):154-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16516066

 

A rating scale for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (the FibroFatigue scale)

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To construct an observer’s rating scale sensitive to change for measuring severity and treatment outcome in fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients.

METHODS: A selection of items from the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) were repeatedly rated and used as outcome measure of a 24-week treatment study. In the study 100 women, fulfilling the criteria for both FM and CFS, received intermittent injections of a staphylococcus toxoid or placebo. Nine CPRS-items with high baseline incidence (cutoff 70%) were extracted and validated against global ratings and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome rating scale (the FibroFatigue scale) was thereafter formed based upon the extracted items and three supplemented ones. The interrater reliability was tested in 27 consecutive patients of both sexes.

RESULTS: The FibroFatigue scale is an observer’s rating scale with 12 items measuring pain, muscular tension, fatigue, concentration difficulties, failing memory, irritability, sadness, sleep disturbances, and autonomic disturbances (items derived from the CPRS) and irritable bowel, headache, and subjective experience of infection (new items). There was a statistically significant correlation between the CPRS-extracted items and global ratings as well as with the FIQ. The interrater reliability of the new scale was excellent (correlation coefficient.98), irrespective of the patients’ gender.

CONCLUSION: The FibroFatigue scale seems to be a reliable and valid measuring instrument with capacity to monitor symptom severity and change during treatment of FM/CFS patients.

 

Source: Zachrisson O, Regland B, Jahreskog M, Kron M, Gottfries CG. A rating scale for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (the FibroFatigue scale). J Psychosom Res. 2002 Jun;52(6):501-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12069875