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Fibromyalgia Syndrome

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Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a medical syndrome first described 200 years ago, but only recently officially recognized by medical science. The patient with fibromyalgia experiences widespread pain, often burning, in all four quadrants of the body. Fibromyalgia is often accompanied by additional symptoms, including fatigue, low energy, sleep disturbance, morning stiffness, depression, anxiety, and cognitive deficits. Fibromyalgia is best understood as a “pain amplification disorder,” accompanied by allodynia and hyperalgesia. A variety of lifestyle and self-care interventions can be useful in moderating the patient’s symptoms and improving quality of life. A case study illustrates the Pathways Model guided treatment program for a 34-year-old female with fibromyalgia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Angele McGrady Ph.D.

  2. School of Mind-Body Medicine, Saybrook University, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Donald Moss Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Angele McGrady Ph.D.
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  2. Donald Moss Ph.D.
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McGrady, A., Moss, D. (2013). Fibromyalgia Syndrome. In: Pathways to Illness, Pathways to Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1379-1_13

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