Summary
The aim of the study was to instruct a group of fibromyalgia patients how to solve problems related to activities of daily life. Sixteen female fibromyalgia patients completed a ten week multidisciplinary program, consisting of a cognitive and an exercise part. After ten weeks a reduction in general pain intensity (p<0.05) was found. At six months follow-up sensory (somatic) pain intensity was reduced compared to baseline recordings (p=0.05). All patients had made adjustments to their everyday life after ten weeks. Eight patients reported that they regularly practised relaxation techniques, and seven patients had undertaken dietary changes. Thus, the study shows that adjustment of activities in daily living may reduce pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Controlled studies are needed in the future.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wolfe, F. The clinical syndrome of fibrositis. Am J Med 1986, 81 (3A), 7–14.
Yunus, M.B., Masi, A.T., Calabro, J.J., Miller, K.A., Feigenbaum, S.L. Primary fibromyalgia (fibrositis): Clinical study of 50 patients with matched normal controls. Semin Arthr Rheum 1981, 11, 1, 151–171.
Uveges, J.M., Parker, J.C., Smarr, K.L., McGowan, J.F., Lyon, M.G., Irvin, W.S., Meyer, A.A., Buckelew, S.P., Morgan, R.K., Delmonico, R.L., Hewett, J.E., Kay, D.R. Psychological symptoms in primary fibromyalgia syndrome: Relationship to pain, life stress, and sleep disturbance. Arthritis Rheum 1990, 33, 8, 1279–1283.
Forseth, K.Ø., Gran, J.T. The prevalence of fibromyalgia among women aged 20–49 years in Arendal, Norway. Scand J Rheumatol 1992, 21, 74–78.
Hawley, D.J., Wolfe, F. Pain, disability, and pain/disability relationships in seven rheumatic disorders: A study of 1522 patients. J Rheumatol 1991, 18, 10, 1552–1557.
Henriksson, C., Gundmark, I., Bengtsson, A., Ek, A.C. Living with fibromyalgia. Consequences for everyday life. Clin J Pain 1992, 8, 2, 138–144.
Littlejohn, G.O. Fibrositis/fibromyalgia in the workplace. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1989, 15, 45–60.
Cathey, A., Wolfe, F., Kleinheksel, S.M. Functional ability and work status in patients with fibromyalgia. Arthr Care Research 1988, 1, 2, 85–98.
Bennett, R.M., Clark, S.R., Goldberg, L., Nelson, D., Bonafede, R.P., Porter, J., Specht, D. Aerobic fitness in patients with fibrositis. A controlled study of respiratory gas exchange and xenon clearance from exercising muscle. Arthritis Rheum 1989, 32, 4, 454–460.
Jacobsen, S., Danneskiold-Samsøe, B. Isometric and isokinetic muscle strength in patients with fibrositis syndrome. Scand J Rheumatol 1987, 16, 61–65.
Mengshoel, A.M., Førre, Ø., Komnæs, H.B. Muscle strength and aerobic capacity in primary fibromyalgia. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1990, 8, 475–479.
Goldenberg, D.L. An overview of psychologic studies in fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 1989, (Suppl) 19, 16, 12–14.
Alfici, S., Sigal, M., Landau, M. Primary fibromyalgia syndrome —a variant of depressive disorder? Psychother Psychosom 1989, 51, 156–161.
Dailey, P.A., Bishop, G.D., Russell, I.J., Fletcher, E.M. Psychological stress and the fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol 1990, 17, 1380–1385.
Burckhardt, C.S., Clark, S.R., Bennett, R.M. Fibromyalgia and quality of life: A comparative analysis. J Rheumatol 1993, 20, 475–479.
McCain, G.A., Bell, D.A., Mai, F.M., Halliday, P.D. A controlled study of the effects of a supervised cardiovascular fitness training program on the manifestations of primary fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum 1988, 31, 9, 1135–1141.
Mengshoel, A.M., Komnæs, H.B., Førre, Ø. The effects of 20 weeks of physical fitness training in female patients with fibromyalgia. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1992, 10, 345–349.
Ferraccioli, G., Ghirelli, L., Scita, F., Nolli, M., Mozzani, M., Fontana, S., Scorsonelli, M., Tridenti, A., DeRisio, C. EMG-biofeedback training in fibromyalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol 1987, 14, 820–825.
Haanen, H.C.M., Hoenderdos, H.T.W., vanRomunde, L.K.J., Hop, W.C.J., Mallee, C., Terwiel, J.P., Hekster, G.B. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 1991, 18, 72–75.
Goldenberg, D.L. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1989, 15, 3, 499–512.
Buckelew, S.P. Fibromyalgia: A rehabilitation approach. A review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1989, 68, 37–42.
McCain, G.A. Nonmedical treatments in primary fibromyalgia. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1989, 15, 1, 73–90.
Baumstark, K.E., Buckelew, S.P. Fibromyalgia: clinical signs, research findings, treatment implications, and future directions. Ann Behav Med 1992, 14, 4, 282–291.
Manne, S.L., Zautra, A.J. Coping with arthritis. Current status and critique. Review. Arthr Rheum 1992, 35, 11, 1273–1280.
Jensen, M.P., Turner, J.A., Romano, J.M., Karoly, P. Coping with chronic pain: a critical review of the literature. Pain 1991, 47, 249–283.
Mengshoel, A.M., Førre, Ø. Pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatic disorders. Clin Rheumatol 1993, 12, 4, 515–521.
Veale, D., Kavanagh, G., Fielding, J.F., Fitzgerald, O. Primary fibromyalgia and the irritable bowel syndrome: different expressions of a common pathogenetic process. Br J Rheumatol 1991, 30, 220–222.
Haugen, M., Kjeldsen-Kragh, J., Nordvåg, B.Y., Førre, Ø. Diet and disease symptoms in rheumatic diseases — results of a questionnaire based survey. Clin Rheumatol 1991, 10, 4, 401–407.
The American College of Rheumatology. Criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia. Report of the multicenter Criteria Committee. Arthritis Rheum 1990, 33, 2, 160–172.
Jacobson, E. Progressive relaxation. 2nd ed. University of Chicago Press, Chicago 1948.
Schultz, J.H. Das autogene training. 12th ed. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1966.
Price, D.D., McGrath, P.A., Rafii, A., Bucklingham, B. The validation of visual analogue scales as ratio scale measures for chronic and experimental pain. Pain 1983, 17, 45–56.
Melzack, R. The McGill Pain Questionnaire: Major properties and scoring methods. Pain 1975, 277–299.
Strand, L.I., Wisnes, A.R. The development of a Norwegian pain questionnaire. Pain 1991, 46, 61–66.
Turner, J.A., Jensen, M.P. Efficacy of cognitive therapy for chronic low back pain. Pain 1993, 52, 169–177.
O'Leary, A., Shoor, S., Lorig, K., Holman, H.R. A cognitive-behavioral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Health Psychol 1988, 7(6), 527–544.
Nielson, W.R., Walker, C., McCain, G.A. Cognitive behavioral treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: preliminary findings. J Rheumatol 1992, 19, 98–103.
Turner, J.A., Romano, J.M.: Cognitive behavioral therapy. In: The Management of Pain. 2nd ed., Ed.: Bonica J.J. Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1990, 1711–1719.
Bradley, L.A., Young, L.D., Anderson, K.O., Turner, R.A., Agudelo, C.A., McDaniel, L.K., Pisko, E.J., Semble, E.L., Morgan, T.M. Effects of psychological therapy on pain behaviour of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Arthritis Rheum 1987, 30, 10, 1105–1114.
Manning, A.P., Heaton, K.W., Uglan, P., Harvey, R.F. Wheat fiber and irritable bowel syndrome: a controlled trial. Lancet 1977, 417–418.
Høstmark, A.T., Lystad, E., Vellar, O.D., Hovi, K., Berg, J.E. Reduced plasma fibrinogen, plasma peroxids, lipids, apolipoproteins after a 3-week vegetarian diet. Plant Food H Nutr 1993, 43, 55–61.
Kjeldsen-Kragh, J., Haugen, M., Borchgrevink, C.F., Lærum, E., Eek, M., Mowinkel, P., Hovi, K., Førre, Ø. Controlled trial of fasting and one-year vegetarian diet in rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet 1991, 388, 899–902.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mengshoel, A.M., Forseth, K.Ø., Haugen, M. et al. Multidisciplinary approach to fibromyalgia A pilot study. Clin Rheumatol 14, 165–170 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214937
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214937