TENDER POINTS OR TENDER PATIENTS - THE VALUE OF THE PSYCHIATRIC IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW FOR ASSESSING AND UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF FIBROMYALGIA

Although the aetiology of fibromyalgia is still unexplained, evidence favouring the role of psychopathology is accumulating, at least in a s ubgroup of patients; however, the exact aetiological significance of p sychopathology in this syndrome is difficult to assess. Various assess ment strategies have both strengths and weaknesses. Two case reports a re presented which illustrate the value of the psychiatric in-depth in terview (including psychodynamic-biographical history taking) for asse ssing and understanding psychological/psychiatric aspects of fibromyal gia.