title: Multidisciplinary approach to fibromyalgia: what is the teaching?
abstract: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a rheumatic disease that is characterised by chronic musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, fatigue, sleep and mood disorder. FM patients demonstrate dysregulation of pain neurotransmitter function and experience a neurohormone-mediated association with sleep irregularities. There are currently no instrumental tests or specific diagnostic markers for FM, and many of the existing indicators are only significant for research purposes. Anti-depressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), opioids, sedatives, muscle relaxants and antiepileptics have all been used to treat FM with varying results. It has been shown that interdisciplinary treatment programmes lead to greater improvements in subjective pain and function than monotherapies. Physical exercise and multimodal cognitive behavioural therapy are the most widely accepted and beneficial forms of non-pharmacological therapy.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Ospedale L. Sacco, Via GB Grassi 74, Milan, Italy. sarzi@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarzi-Puttini
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salaffi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benucci
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mease
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018710:Pain Clinics; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics