title: A six year prospective study of a cohort of patients with fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the long term prognosis in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty five of 70 patients who had participated in a three week trial six years earlier completed again the same questionnaires used previously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most symptoms had remained stable. Pain had increased, but some aspects of quality of life had improved over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of FM persisted over the six years, but patients appeared better able to cope with them.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finckh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cedraschi
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Vischer
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics