Investigation of sensoriality in fibromyalgia syndrome with projective tests

This study aims to investigate the psychic functioning of patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), the causes of which are not fully known and are closely related to psychological factors, with primary chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue symptoms and to analyze them psychoanalytically with the Rorschach Test and Thematic Perception Test (TAT), which are projective tests. The aim of the study is to try to understand how the subjective experience of this disease is expressed in fibromyalgia patients. In addition, it is aimed to define psychologically according to an approach specific to psychoanalytic psychopathology, to test the formulated hypotheses, and to determine the similarities and differences between the cases examined. This is a study based on clinical observation of fibromyalgia patients in the algology clinic. In fibromyalgia syndrome, the causes of which are unknown in the medical plan, it is aimed to investigate the sensorial elements in the psychic world of the patients through projective tests and patient discours in clinical interviews. It is thought that detecting similar points in the psychic functioning of the disease will contribute to the treatment techniques. In this study, a face-to-face interview was conducted with a total of 22 adult volunteer patients, aged between 26 and 55, diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, who accepted to participate in the study and gave informed consent, and projective tests were applied. The test protocols are analyzed with content analysis method peculiar to the French School and interpreted in compliance with the theoretical framework of psychoanalysis. The hypothesis of the study is that the sensorial elements of patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome will come to the fore. This study aims to provide benefits in bringing a new perspective to sensorial that has worked for the first time in fibromyalgia syndrome.