Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT] in the fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS].Method: Sixty females, aged 18 to 65 years, with FMS, without previous treatment were randomized in CBT intervention group [10 structured group sessions once a week] or control group [routine weekly medical visits], for 10 weeks. The following instruments were used: visual analog scale, Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short form Health Survey [SF-36], subcomponent state of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and the average number of paracetamol tablets. Additionally, patients were asked if they had improved “much,” “moderately,” “a little,” “nothing,” or felt “worse” on a Likert scale.Results: Patients in the CBT group presented significantly lower depression index and higher mental health score studied by the SF-36. Mean weekly intake of paracetamol tablets for pain controlwas significantly lower in CBT patients. In both groups, we observed statistically significant improvement in all the parameters over time.Conclusions: Patients under CBT needed significantly less analgesic tablets, and they achieved better responses in respect to depression and mental health than the controls. This result is expected since CBT is a psychological intervention.
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Overall, included patients had long disease duration (more than five years) except in three studies reporting less than five years.
“Overall, the studies included patients with a long disease duration (more than five years) except in three studies (Soares and Grossi, 2002;Falcao et al., 2008;Mir o et al., 2011) which reported a disease duration of <5 years.”
From Efficacy, acceptability and safety of cognitive behavioural therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome – A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2018) · cites this paper as Falcao et al., 2008
Ten studies were conducted in North America (USA) and one in South America (Brazil).
“Ten studies were conducted in North America (USA) (Nicassio et al., 1997;Oliver et al., 2001;King et al., 2002;Williams et al., 2002;Edinger et al., 2005;Kashikar-Zuck et al., 2005, 2012;Rooks et al., 2007;Ang et al., 2010;Woolfolk et al., 2012) and one in South America (Brazil) (Falcao et al., 2008).”
From Efficacy, acceptability and safety of cognitive behavioural therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome – A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2018) · cites this paper as Falcao et al., 2008
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- Authors
- Falcão, D. M., Sales, L., Leite, J. R., Feldman, D., Valim, V., & Natour, J.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Natour, Jamil
- Venue
- Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 133-140
- ISSN
- 1058-2452 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-7012
- OpenAlex
- W2018142062
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain (publishedVersion)
- UNIFESP Institutional Repository (Universidade Federal de São Paulo) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Keywords
- cognitive behavioral therapy, fibromyalgia, depression, mental health, analgesic use, paracetamol, pain, anxiety, psychological intervention
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