Effects of a 1.5-day multidisciplinary outpatient treatment program for fibromyalgia: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effect of a 1.5-day multidisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment program on impact of illness, depression, and life fulfillment.


METHODS
A sample of 100 consecutive enrollees in a 1.5-day multidisciplinary group outpatient fibromyalgia treatment program between February 14, 2000, and May 9, 2000, in a tertiary medical center was used for this study. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, the Life Fulfillment and Satisfaction Scales, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were administered to subjects immediately preceding the treatment program and by mail 1 mo after completing the program.


RESULTS
The 78 subjects who returned their surveys 1 mo after treatment demonstrated significant improvement in the area of the impact of illness as measured by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score (51.3-44.7, P < 0.002). There was no significant improvement in depressive symptoms (P < 0.056) or the level of life fulfillment (P < 0.53). Subjects with depression improved on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire to the same degree as those without depression. The 22 nonresponders did not differ significantly from the responders in the variables of sex, age, pretreatment Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score, marital status, educational level, family income, duration of symptoms, or history of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a 1.5-day multidisciplinary fibromyalgia treatment program does have a significant positive effect on the impact of illness among patients with fibromyalgia with or without concomitant depression and may be a cost-effective model for the treatment of these patients.
Pfeiffer
Angela
A
Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Thompson
Jeffrey M
JM
Nelson
Audrey
A
Tucker
Sharon
S
Luedtke
Connie
C
Finnie
Steve
S
Sletten
Chris
C
Postier
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome