Using Multidisciplinary Care to Treat Fibromyalgia

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Find more articles on this and other psychiatry and CNS topics:
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders

Fibromyalgia is a common condition associated with abnormal central pain processing, chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, tenderness at various points on the body, fatigue, and sleep abnormalities. Individuals with fibromyalgia often have comorbid anxiety, depression, and/or other pain syndromes. Multiple pharmacologic agents have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating some fibromyalgic symptoms, but pharmacology is only one piece of the puzzle in the successful management of fibromyalgia. Thorough medical and psychiatric evaluations are necessary after confirming a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and a multidisciplinary treatment strategy including patient education, aerobic exercise, and cognitive-behavioral therapy as well as pharmacotherapy has been shown to be effective in alleviating fibromyalgic symptoms.