title: Effectiveness of a psychoeducational treatment program implemented in general practice for fibromyalgia patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A recent meta-analysis concluded that multicomponent treatments are effective for some fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine whether a psychoeducational intervention implemented in primary care is more effective than usual care for improving the functional status of patients with FM.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on a randomized controlled trial. The 484 patients with FM included in a database of the Viladecans Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) were eligible for screening. Finally, 108 patients were randomly assigned to the intervention and 108 patients were assigned to usual care. The intervention comprised nine 2-hour sessions (5 sessions of education and 4 sessions of autogenic relaxation). The patients were assessed before and after the intervention with a battery of instruments (measuring sociodemographic data, medical comorbidities, functional status, trait anxiety, and social desirability).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The posttreatment drop-out rate was 9.7% (intervention: 6.5%; control: 13%). The intention-to-treat analyses showed significant differences between the groups at posttreatment: the intervention group improved in physical impairment, days not feeling well, pain, general fatigue, morning fatigue, stiffness, anxiety, and depression (medium effect size in most cases). The patients who responded to the intervention reported less trait anxiety at baseline than nonresponders. The absolute risk reduction with the intervention was 36.1% (95% confidence interval: 23.3-48.8) and the number needed to treat was 3 (95% confidence interval: 2.0-4.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 2-month psychoeducational intervention improves the functional status of FM patients to a greater extent than usual care, at least in the short-term. The social desirability bias did not explain the reported outcomes. Trait anxiety was associated with response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu and Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, C/ Dr Antoni Pujadas 42, Barcelona, Spain. jvluciano@pssjd.org
authors.forename: Juan V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Luciano
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Peñarrubia-María
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Vergel
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Campayo
authors.forename: Camino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verduras
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: López del Hoyo
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serrano-Blanco
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome