title: Women with fibromyalgia syndrome in New Zealand: the symptom experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) currently focuses on the experience of widespread pain. However, the symptom experience described by patients with FMS in clinical practice is far more diverse. This study aims identify the most common and severe symptoms in female patients diagnosed with FMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study interviewed 56 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome about their symptoms using the Clinical Interview Schedule--Revised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent and disabling symptoms reported by participants were fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive difficulties.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the need for a range of symptoms to be considered in the assessment and treatment of FMS to help improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience, School of Occupation and Rehabilitation Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Studies, AUT University, AUT North Shore Campus, Auckland, New Zealand. alice.theadom@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theadom
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cropley
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Feigin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult