Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is a chronic pain syndrome defined by bladder pain,often accompanied by urinary frequency and urgency. Despite intensive research, no organ-specific etiologyhas been identified. Several other chronic pain syndromes may be associated with IC/PBS, includingfibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the co-existence of these syndromes suggests a commonpathophysiology for chronic pain disorders. The use of current diagnostic categories for IC/PBS and otherpain syndromes allows overlap in symptoms and objective findings, with often unsatisfactory treatmentoutcomes. We propose an epidemiological approach to identify and describe specific disease phenotypes,first based on traditional diagnostic groups (IC/PBS, IBS, fibromyalgia) and then on more novel methodsutilizing pain symptoms and pain body-map patterns. We hypothesize: 1) Comorbidity, risk factor and qualityof life (QOL) profiles can be identified which are specific to chronic pain patients, when grouped bydiagnoses, symptoms and body-map reported pain; 2) A novel body-map tool will be useful to investigatepain patterns and severity independent of diagnoses and symptoms. To test these hypotheses, a MAPPmulti-center, clinic-based case-control study is proposed with the following aims: 1) To compare thelikelihood of co-morbid chronic pain syndromes, risk factors and QOL between patients with IC/PBS,fibromyalgia, and IBS and matched control patients; 2) To compare risk factors and QOL between patientswith IC/PBS 'only' and patients'with IC/PBS and co-morbid fibromyalgia and/or IBS; 3) To determine howchronic pain symptoms cluster, irrespective of diagnosis, and to identify risk factors and QOL associated withmembership in pain-symptom clusters; and 4) To qualitatively and quantitatively describe chronic painsyndrome patients' body-map pain phenotypes and to determine risk factors and QOL associated withmembership in body-map pain phenotype clusters. The study population will include IC/PBS (344),fibromyalgia (200) and IBS (200) patients,.along with age-, gender- and clinic-matched controls (600). Datacollection will consist of questionnaires and a body-map tool. By better understanding characteristics specificto different groups of IC/PBS and chronic pain patients, patient groups may be identified who will benefitfrom targeted prevention efforts and focused treatment modalities.
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