Treating fibromyalgia with a brief interdisciplinary program: initial outcomes and predictors of response.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a brief, intense treatment program for fibromyalgia and to determine which patient characteristics are associated with a better treatment response.


METHODS
Two self-report measures, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI), were administered before patients completed treatment and 1 month after participating in the program. The main outcome measure was the difference in FIQ score and MPI scale before and after program participation.


RESULTS
Of 139 patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia, 100 chose to participate in the 1 1/2-day Fibromyalgia Treatment Program at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Of these 100 patients, 74 completed the follow-up surveys. Patients were less affected by fibromyalgia after participation in the treatment program. This was demonstrated by a posttreatment improvement in the total FIQ score (P<.001), the MPI pain severity score (P<.001), and the MPI interference score (P=.01). The 1 patient characteristic found to be significantly associated (P<.001) with a better response to treatment was a high pretreatment level of impairment from fibromyalgia, as measured by the pretreatment FIQ score.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief interdisciplinary program for treating fibromyalgia reduced some associated symptoms. Patients more severely affected by fibromyalgia may benefit most from this approach. Clinicians may apply these findings to develop beneficial and convenient treatment programs for patients with fibromyalgia.
Worrel
L M
LM
Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
Krahn
L E
LE
Sletten
C D
CD
Pond
G R
GR
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome