title: Fibromyalgia and the facts. Sense or nonsense.
abstract: A recent flurry of important studies has provided critical new information that is relevant to the contemporary understanding of the fibromyalgia syndrome. The concept that these patients represent solely a form of masked depression or a distinctive syndrome of somatization is not supported by the current facts. Rather it would appear that a characteristic peripheral nociceptive component is modulated by an interplay of complex central factors. A disruption of the neuroendocrine axis controlling growth hormone production may be the link between disturbed sleep and muscle pain, as growth hormone is produced predominantly during stage four sleep. A paradigm to link some of these newer findings is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D017288:Pain Threshold; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications; D013373:Substance P / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P