The Hebrew version of the FibroFatigue scale: validation of a questionnaire for assessment of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The objective of this study is to validate a translated Hebrew version of the FibroFatigue Scale (FFS). The Hebrew version of the FFS was administered to 100 patients fulfilling ACR criteria for classification of FM together with the validated Hebrew version of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the validated Hebrew version of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measurement of pain, anxiety, depression, morning stiffness and global well being. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Spearman correlations.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and fibromyalgia in patients hospitalized on internal medicine wards.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of nonarticular pain complaints (chronic widespread pain, chronic localized pain, transient pain) and fibromyalgia in hospitalized patients and to study utilization patterns of health services associated with pain related problems.

Methods: Five hundred twenty-two patients hospitalized on internal medicine wards were enrolled. Data were collected with a questionnaire covering demographic background, information on pain and other symptoms, utilization of health services, and drug consumption.

Balneotherapy for fibromyalgia at the Dead Sea.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of balneotherapy on patients with fibromyalgia (FM) at the Dead Sea. Forty-eight patients with FM were randomly assigned to a treatment group receiving sulfur baths and a control group. All participants stayed for 10 days at a Dead Sea spa.

Fibromyalgia in inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: Studies of the rheumatological complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) have focused on peripheral arthritis and spondylitis, and less is known about soft tissue rheumatism, specifically the fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of FM and assess pain thresholds in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Seventy-two patients with UC and 41 with CD attending consecutively at the Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic were assessed for the presence of FM and tenderness thresholds.