Fibromyalgia is a widespread non-inflammatory pain syndrome
with multi-system manifestations, and occurs primarily in females between the
ages of 20-65 years old. Fibromyalgia in the adult US population prevalence is
between 1-2%.1 The condition appears to be a primary disorder of pain
processing, or central sensitization. Risk factors include female sex, poor
functional status, stressful life events and low socioeconomic status. Comorbid conditions that frequently occur
with fibromyalgia include depression, rheumatologic conditions, and both
inflammatory and non-inflammatory disorders.
Chronic pain symptoms are often experienced for many years,
if not indefinitely, for most patients experiencing chronic pain, which is
economically exhaustive to the patient and population. Long-term treatment
outcomes from a multi-disciplinary care approach shows evidence of a
significant decrease in the psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and
physical pain.2 Determinants of extended duration of treatment outcome appear
to be a result of the environment in which treatment occurs, such as individual
versus group treatment. This treatment
approach supports the idea that a multi-disciplinary care offers an improved
treatment outcome compared to standard of care for chronic pain. Research suggests that the physician or
practitioner-patient relationship is central to treatment success and is
reflected in an international case conference of integrative medicine for the
treatment of chronic pain.3
Mindfulness and meditative practices have
demonstrated improvement in quality of life, including depression in patients
diagnosed with fibromyalgia.3 Research
demonstrated that mindfulness had a greater benefit than the control
interventions (mindfulness-based stress reduction without training), and the
intervention had long lasting effects for females with fibromyalgia.4
1. Domino,
Frank J. The 5-minute Clinical Consult Standard. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters
Kluwer Health; 2015. 444-445 p.
2.Meineche-Schmidet
V, Jensen N.H, Sjogren P. Long-term
outcome of multidisciplinary intervention of chronic pain patients in a private
setting. Scandinavian Journal of
Pain. 2012; 3: 99-105.
3.Benno
Rehberg. Evidence-Based integrative pain
medicine. European Journal of
Integrative Medicine. 2010; 3:109-113.
4.Grossman P, Tiefenthaler-Gilmer U, Raysz A, Kesper U.
Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia: Evidence of
postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefits in well-being. Psychother
Psychosom. 2007;76:226–33.
