Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and quality of life in female patients with fibromyalgia

Background/aim: The present study aimed to determine the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms severity, fibromyalgia (FM) severity, and QoL. Materials and methods: While the FM group consisted of 113 (74%) patients, the control group consisted of 40 (26%) individuals. FM symptom severity, ADHD symptom severity, and QoL were evaluated using the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS), and World Health Organization quality of life scale-brief version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. Results: It was found that the FM group had significantly higher scores on the ASRS than the control group (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in FIQ scores and three WHOQOL-BREF domain scores between the FM alone and comorbid FM/high probability of ADHD groups (p < 0.05). We found a negative correlation between ASRS total scores and all other scale scores (except for the social relationships domain score of the WHOQOL-BREF) and a positive correlation between ASRS total scores and FIQ scores in FM patients. ADHD scores would mediate the relationship between depression severity and QoL. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that the presence of ADHD symptoms was related to greater FM symptom severity and poorer QoL. Also, ADHD scores would mediate the relationship between depression severity and QoL.