The effects of meditation-based interventions on the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Meditation is the third most commonly requested complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy reported in a US survey. Those who suffer from chronic pain are those who most frequently use CAM therapies. This review aims to evaluate whether meditation-based interventions can help the treatment of fibromyalgia. A PubMed search was conducted using the terms "fibromyalgia" and "meditation", or "mindfulness", or "mantra" or "relaxation response". We selected articles which clearly described a meditation intervention being used in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Only four articles were classified with score 3 in the Jadad scale. Another seven articles were included in this review. Most of the results indicate improvement in fibromyalgia-related symptoms in patients who participated in a meditation-based intervention. Considering only 4 of the 13 studies achieved a score of 3 on the Jadad scale, researchers of meditation interventions should discuss the best methodologic control for these studies.
Instituto do Cérebro, Inst. Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 627/701, CEP 05601-901, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ehkozasa@gmail.com
Elisa H
EH
Kozasa
Luiza H
LH
Tanaka
Carlos
C
Monson
Stephen
S
Little
Frederico Camelo
FC
Leao
Mario P
MP
Peres
D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012063:Relaxation / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome