Cited by 266Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome - a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials

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BERNARDY, KATHRIN, FÜBER, NICOLE, KÖLLNER, VOLKER, HÄUSER, WINFRIED·2010·The Journal of Rheumatology

Abstract

Objective.: We performed the first systematic review with metaanalysis of the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). Methods.: We screened Cochrane Library, Medline, PsychINFO, and Scopus (through June 2009) and the reference sections of original studies and systematic reviews for CBT in FM. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing CBT to controls were analyzed. Primary outcomes were pain, sleep, fatigue, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Secondary outcomes were depressed mood, self-efficacy pain, and healthcare-seeking behavior. Effects were summarized using standardized mean differences (SMD). Results.: A total of 14 out of 27 RCT with 910 subjects with a median treatment time of 27 hours (range 6–75) over a median of 9 weeks (range 5–15) were included. CBT reduced depressed mood (SMD −0.24, 95% CI −0.40, −0.08; p = 0.004) at posttreatment. Sensitivity analyses showed that the positive effect on depressed mood could not be distinguished from some risks of bias. There was no significant effect on pain, fatigue, sleep, and HRQOL at posttreatment and at followup. There was a significant effect on self-efficacy pain posttreatment (SMD 0.85, 95% CI 0.25, 1.46; p = 0.006) and at followup (SMD 0.90, 95% CI 0.14, 1.66; p = 0.02). Operant behavioral therapy significantly reduced the number of physician visits at followup (SMD −1.57, 95% CI −2.00, −1.14; p < 0.001). Conclusion.: CBT can be considered to improve coping with pain and to reduce depressed mood and healthcare-seeking behavior in FM.

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  • A review of studies with FM patients (Bernardy et al. 2010) showed that the CBT approach provides a greater sense of control over symptoms.

    “Similar results are mentioned in review of studies with FM patients (Bernardy et al. 2010), showing clearly that the CBT approach provides a greater sense of control over the symptoms (Clauw 2014).”

    From Efficacy of Combined Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2018) · cites this paper as Bernardy et al. 2010

    The Abstract reports that CBT significantly improved pain self-efficacy after treatment and at follow-up, supporting a greater sense of control over pain. The claim extends that finding to FM symptoms generally; the Abstract reports no significant effect on pain, fatigue, or sleep symptoms themselves. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Psychological intervention is a key component of chronic pain management, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy as two of the most recommended and evidence-supported approaches.

    “Psychological intervention appears as a key component of chronic pain management, with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as two of the most recommended and evidence-supported approaches (Bernardy et al., 2010; Hann and McCracken, 2014; Williams et al., 2020).”

    From Online ACT intervention for fibromyalgia: An exploratory study of feasibility and preliminary effectiveness with smartphone-delivered experiential sampling assessment (2022) · cites this paper as Bernardy et al., 2010

    The Summary of evidence (page unavailable) reports that CBT improved depressed mood and pain self-efficacy in fibromyalgia, supporting a limited evidence-based role. But the Implications for clinical practice (page unavailable) say CBT cannot be recommended for fibromyalgia’s key symptoms, including pain. The paper does not establish that CBT is among the most recommended approaches for chronic pain generally, and it does not assess ACT. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • For CBT, the findings are similar to those in high quality reviews; for example, Bernady 2010 used Cochrane methods including GRADE in a review of psychological interventions for adults with fibromyalgia, including 29 RCTs, and this agreement extends to CBT in rheumatoid arthritis (Prothero 2018).

    “For CBT, the findings are similar to those in high quality reviews. For example, Bernady 2010 used Cochrane methods including GRADE in a review of psychological interventions for adults with fibromyalgia, including 29 RCTs. This agreement extends to CBT in rheumatoid arthritis (Prothero 2018).”

    From Psychological therapies for the management of chronic pain (excluding headache) in adults (2020) · cites this paper as Bernady 2010

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  • Another meta-analysis concluded that the efficacy of CBT in treating depression could not be distinguished without some risk of bias.

    “Another meta-analysis concluded that the efficacy of CBT in treating depression could not be distinguished without some risk of bias [56].”
  • A recent meta-analysis in which quality of life was assessed suggested that CBT is not effective for the achievement of this outcome.

    “However, a recent meta-analysis in which quality of life was assessed [56] suggested that CBT is not effective for the achievement of this outcome.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. [2]2. Häuser W, Zimmer C, Felde E, Köllner V. What are the key symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome? Results of a survey of the German Fibromyalgia Association [German]. Schmerz 2008;22:176-83.
  2. [8]8. Fordyce WE. Behavioral methods in chronic pain and illness. St. Louis: Mosby; 1976.
  3. [14]14. Thieme K, Häuser W, Batra A, Bernardy K, Felde E, Gesmann M, et al. Psychotherapy in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome [German]. Schmerz 2008;22:295-302.
  4. [20]20. The Nordic Cochrane Centre. Review Manager (RevMan). Version 5.0 for Windows. Copenhagen: The Cochrane Collaboration; 2009.
  5. [27]27. de Souza JB, Bourgault P, Charest J, Marchand S. Interactional school of fibromyalgia: Learning to cope with pain -A randomized controlled study. Rev Bras Reumatol 2008;48:218-25.
  6. [33]33. Goossens ME, Rutten-van Mölken MP, Leidl RM, Bos SG, Vlaeyen JW, Teeken-Gruben NJ. Cognitive-educational treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized clinical trial. J Rheumatol 1996;23:1246-54.
  7. [44]44. Nicassio PM, Radojevic V, Weisman MH, Schuman C, Kim J, Schoenfeld-Smith K. A comparison of behavioural and educational interventions for fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 1997;24:2000-7.

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Authors
BERNARDY, K., FÜBER, N., KÖLLNER, V., & HÄUSER, W.
Affiliations
Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes (DE)
Corresponding author
HÄUSER, WINFRIED
Venue
The Journal of Rheumatology
Published
2010-08-03
Volume
37
Issue
10
Pages
1991-2005
ISSN
  • 0315-162X (ISSN-L)
  • 1499-2752
OpenAlex
W2056292060
Cited by
266
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 35
FWCI
3.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Rheumatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (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
fibromyalgia, cognitive behavioral therapy, pain self-efficacy, depressive mood, health-seeking behavior, pain coping, health-related quality of life, fatigue, sleep
MeSH terms
Fibromyalgia, Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Databases, Bibliographic, Treatment Outcome

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