Assessing and Diagnosing Fibromyalgia in the Clinical Setting

Article Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a common and disabling condition that may be difficult to assess and diagnose owing to its wide range of symptoms and common comorbidities. The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia include widespread pain over the whole body, pain at specific tender points, fatigue, memory and other cognitive problems, sleep and mood disturbances, and impaired functioning. Accurately diagnosing fibromyalgia may require diagnostic testing and physical examinations such as tender points examinations; however, patients with longstanding symptoms may be diagnosed according to a symptom-based fibromyalgia criteria checklist. This activity provides a sample assessment and diagnosis in a clinical situation.