title: A survey of conventional and complementary therapies used by youth with juvenile-onset fibromyalgia.
abstract: Little is known regarding treatment choices of youth diagnosed with juvenile-onset fibromyalgia (JFM) as they move into young adulthood. Additionally, there is little empirical evidence to guide youth with FM into appropriate treatment options, leading to a variety of therapies used to manage FM symptoms. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine all therapies used by individuals with JFM as they entered young adulthood and the perceived effectiveness of these treatments. As part of a larger follow-up study, participants completed a web-based survey of all current and past treatments received for FM symptoms 2 years after their initial presentation and diagnosis at a pediatric rheumatology clinic. One hundred ten out of 118 eligible patients participated in the follow-up assessment as young adults (mean age 18.97 years; 93.6% female). A majority of participants reported use of conventional medications (e.g., antidepressants, anticonvulsants) and nondrug therapies (e.g., psychotherapy). Currently and within the past 2 years, antidepressant medications were the most commonly used to manage FM. Complementary treatments were used less often, with massage being the most popular choice. Although currently used treatments were reported as being effective, past treatments, especially medications, were viewed as being more variably effective. This is a potential reason why young adults with JFM might try more complementary and alternative approaches to managing their symptoms. More controlled studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of these complementary methods to assist treatment providers in giving evidence-based treatment recommendations.
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Electronic address: emily.verkamp@cchmc.org.
authors: Emily K
authors: EK
authors: Verkamp
authors: Department of Psychology, Children's Medical Center of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.
authors: Stacy R
authors: SR
authors: Flowers
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Anne M
authors: AM
authors: Lynch-Jordan
authors: William S. Rowe Division of Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Janalee
authors: J
authors: Taylor
authors: William S. Rowe Division of Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Tracy V
authors: TV
authors: Ting
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Susmita
authors: S
authors: Kashikar-Zuck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents