The Symptom Severity Inventory

Case Study :

A 34-year-old Caucasian female presents to the clinic with a chief complaint of widespread pain in her joints and muscles. She states that her skin seems sensitive, and sometimes it hurts to be touched.

The Caucasian female has had extreme fatigue for the past 4 months. She admits to being depressed and is unable to sleep well. She has had to drop out of her gardening club due to pain. She says that bright lights and loud noises really bother her.

Past medical history noncontributory. Her social history was significant for her divorce from her husband 14 months ago. She is the mother of 2 small children and works as an administrative assistant at the local insurance company.

Physical exam remarkable for tender points over her posterior supraspinatus muscles, occiput, trapezius, gluteal area, and sacroiliac joints bilaterally. BASED ON HER PHYSICAL EXAM, the APRN tells the patient that she most likely has fibromyalgia.

Question :

What are the underlying causes of fibromyalgia? 

The APRN tells the patient that the tender points are no longer used to diagnose FM. She suggests that the patient takes the Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and the Symptom Severity Inventory (SSI).

The patient asks the APRN what these tests are for. What is the APRN’s best answer?