Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To validate a self-report fibromyalgia screener in a chronic pain population. DESIGN: Adults with chronic pain were evaluated with a six-item, self-report fibromyalgia screening tool based on revised American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia diagnostic criteria, with fibromyalgia diagnosed when patients experienced chronic pain and scored ≥13 on the ACR fibromyalgia symptom severity scale. Patients were independently assigned clinical diagnoses by treating clinicians. SETTING: University-based, tertiary care pain clinic. SUBJECTS: Three hundred thirty-seven mixed chronic pain patients. RESULTS: Agreement between the clinical diagnosis and screener diagnosis was good (P < 0.001), with 76% sensitivity and 82% specificity. CONCLUSION: A self-administered, brief fibromyalgia screening questionnaire can effectively identify chronic pain patients who will likely have clinical fibromyalgia.