Increased prevalence of autism in the children of fibromyalgia patients relative to other types of chronic pain

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic primary pain condition characterised by widespread pain and hypersensitivities, and symptoms of fatigue, poor sleep and impaired cognition. The current studies were prompted by clinical observations made at a tertiary pain centre, where patients with severe FMS frequently reported having biological children on the autism spectrum. Using multimodal data collection techniques, including a clinical service evaluation (N = 589), an exploratory phenotyping study (N= 59), an online patient survey (N= 710), and a clinical prospective investigation (N = 66), the present study aimed to investigate links that may point to a connection between maternal FMS and autistic offspring. For the clinical and online data collection, the studies used comparator patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and a mix of “other chronic pain conditions”. Maternal factors of interest, including a familial history of neurodivergence and psychological variables, were considered in the analysis. Maternal FMS was consistently found to be associated with an increased likelihood of children with an autism diagnosis, even after accounting for established maternal factors associated with autism. Meeting and advocating for the support needs of autistic children may require enhanced care, which can lead to greater demands on patients already suffering from FMS or CRPS. The causes for the observed association between maternal FMS and autistic children require further investigation. These findings highlight the importance of being aware of potential neurodivergence among the offspring of patients with FMS and suggest that this should be routinely asked about and documented.