Factors explaining variance in perceived pain in women with fibromyalgia

Table 3 Correlations between buspirone challenge test variables and sensoric pain score in female fibromyalgia patients and female population controls.

	Fibromyalgia (N = 22)	Controls (N = 13)
Buspirone test variable	Correlation with sensoric pain	Correlation with sensoric pain
Baseline cortisol	-0.43^* (p = 0.04)	0.15 (p = 0.61)
Δ Cortisol	-0.31 (p = 0.15)	0.37 (p = 0.22)
Baseline systolic blood pressure	-0.33 (p = 0.14)	0.43 (p = 0.13)
Δ Systolic blood pressure	0.50^* (p = 0.02)	-0.31 (p = 0.28)
Baseline diastolic blood pressure	-0.26 (p = 0.24)	0.28 (p = 0.33)
Δ Diastolic blood pressure	0.50^* (p = 0.02)	0.00 (p = 1.00)

Δ = Level after 90 minutes-baseline level High pain scores are associated with a small drop in blood pressure (Δ systolic blood pressure) after buspirone in fibromyalgia patients. A smaller drop in blood pressure after buspirone gives a smaller negative Δ value, and hence the seen positive correlation.

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