A mind-body technique for symptoms related to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Effect of tai chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia: comparative effectiveness randomized controlled trial The efficacy of mindfulness meditation plus Qigong movement therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Does the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire measure what we think it does? Construct validity evidence from an active controlled randomized clinical trial. The effect of dietary glutamate on fibromyalgia and irritable bowel symptoms. Effects of T’ai Chi Exercise on Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life Reliability and Construct Validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Instruments in Women with Fibromyalgia Self-report Mindfulness as a Mediator of Psychological Well-being in a Stress Reduction Intervention for Cancer Patients—A Randomized Study In-Patient Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Controlled Nonrandomized Comparison of Conventional Medicine versus Integrative Medicine including Fasting Therapy Follow-up of Yoga of Awareness for Fibromyalgia: Results at 3 Months and Replication in the Wait-list Group
CONTEXT A novel mind-body approach ( amygdala retraining ) is hypothesized to improve symptoms related to  fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue .  OBJECTIVE To examine the use of a mind-body approach for improving symptoms related to  fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue .  DESIGN This was a single-blind , r and omized controlled trial . SETTING The study was conducted in a tertiary-care fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue clinic . PATIENTS Patients with fibromyalgia , chronic fatigue , or both were included . INTERVENTIONS Patients were r and omly assigned to receive amygdala retraining along with st and ard care or st and ard care alone . St and ard care involved attending a 1.5-day multidisciplinary program . The amygdala retraining group received an additional 2.5-hour training course in which the key tools and techniques adapted from an existing program were taught to the patient . A home- study video course and associated text were provided to supplement the on-site program . Both groups received telephone calls twice a month to answer questions related to technique and to provide support . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Vali date d self-report question naires related to general health , well-being , and symptoms , including Short Form-36 , Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile , Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory , Epworth Sleepiness Scale , and Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire . RESULTS Of the 44 patients r and omly assigned who completed baseline assessment s , 21 patients completed the study ( 14 in the st and ard care group and 7 in the study group ) . Median age was 48 years ( range , 27 - 56 years ) , and female subjects comprised 91 % of the group . Analyses demonstrated statistically significant improvements in scores for physical health , energy , pain , symptom distress , and fatigue in patients who received the amygdala retraining compared with st and ard care Abstract Objectives To determine the effectiveness of tai chi interventions compared with aerobic exercise , a current core st and ard treatment in patients with fibromyalgia , and to test whether the effectiveness of tai chi depends on its dosage or duration . Design Prospect i ve , r and omized , 52 week , single blind comparative effectiveness trial . Setting Urban tertiary care academic hospital in the United States between March 2012 and September 2016 . Participants 226 adults with fibromyalgia ( as defined by the American College of Rheumatology 1990 and 2010 criteria ) were included in the intention to treat analyses : 151 were assigned to one of four tai chi groups and 75 to an aerobic exercise group . Interventions Participants were r and omly assigned to either supervised aerobic exercise ( 24 weeks , twice weekly ) or one of four classic Yang style supervised tai chi interventions ( 12 or 24 weeks , once or twice weekly ) . Participants were followed for 52 weeks . Adherence was rigorously encouraged in person and by telephone . Main outcome measures The primary outcome was change in the revised fibromyalgia impact question naire ( FIQR ) scores at 24 weeks compared with baseline . Secondary outcomes included changes of scores in patient ’s global assessment , anxiety , depression , self efficacy , coping strategies , physical functional performance , functional limitation , sleep , and health related quality of life . Results FIQR scores improved in all five treatment groups , but the combined tai chi groups improved statistically significantly more than the aerobic exercise group in FIQR scores at 24 weeks ( difference between groups=5.5 points , 95 % confidence interval 0.6 to 10.4 , P=0.03 ) and several secondary outcomes ( patient ’s global assessment = 0.9 points , 0.3 to 1.4 , P=0.005 ; anxiety=1.2 points , 0.3 to 2.1 , P=0.006 ; self efficacy=1.0 points , 0.5 to 1.6 , P=0.0004 ; and coping strategies , 2.6 points , 0.8 to 4.3 , P=0.005 ) . Tai chi treatment compared with aerobic exercise administered with the same intensity and duration ( 24 weeks , twice weekly ) had greater benefit ( between group difference in FIQR scores=16.2 points , 8.7 to 23.6 , P<0.001 ) . The groups who received tai chi for 24 weeks showed greater improvements than those who received it for 12 weeks ( difference in FIQR scores=9.6 points , 2.6 to 16.6 , P=0.007 ) . There was no significant increase in benefit for groups who received tai chi twice weekly compared with once weekly . Participants attended the tai chi training sessions more often than participants attended aerobic exercise . The effects of tai chi were consistent across all instructors . No serious adverse events related to the interventions were reported . Conclusion Tai chi mind-body treatment results in similar or greater improvement in symptoms than aerobic exercise , the current most commonly prescribed non-drug treatment , for a variety of outcomes for patients with fibromyalgia . Longer duration of tai chi showed greater improvement . This mind-body approach may be considered a therapeutic option in the multidisciplinary management of fibromyalgia . Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov NCT01420640 OBJECTIVE To test the short and longterm benefits of an 8 week mind-body intervention that combined training in mindfulness meditation with Qigong movement therapy for individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome ( FM ) . METHODS A total of 128 individuals with FM were r and omly assigned to the mind-body training program or an education support group that served as the control . Outcome measures were pain , disability ( Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ) , depression , myalgic score ( number and severity of tender points ) , 6 minute walk time , and coping strategies , which were assessed at baseline and at 8 , 16 , and 24 weeks . RESULTS Both groups registered statistically significant improvements across time for the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire , Total Myalgic Score , Pain , and Depression , and no improvement in the number of feet traversed in the 6 minute walk . However , there was no difference in either the rate or magnitude of these changes between the mind-body training group and the education control group . Salutary changes occurring by the eighth week ( which corresponded to the end of the mind-body and education control group sessions ) were largely maintained by both groups throughout the 6 month followup period . CONCLUSION While both groups showed improvement on a number of outcome variables , there was no evidence that the multimodal mind-body intervention for FM was superior to education and support as a treatment option . Additional r and omized controlled trials are needed before interventions of this kind can be recommended for treatment of FM The current study attempted a rigorous test of the construct validity of a widely used self-report measure of dispositional mindfulness , the Five Facet Mindfulness Question naire ( FFMQ ) , within the context of an active controlled r and omized trial ( n = 130 ) . The trial included three arms : mindfulness-based stress reduction ( MBSR ) , an active control condition that did not include instruction in mindfulness meditation ( Health Enhancement Program [ HEP ] ) , and a waitlist control condition . Partial evidence for the convergent validity of the FFMQ was shown in correlations at baseline between FFMQ facets and measures of psychological symptoms and psychological well-being . In addition , facets of the FFMQ were shown to increase over the course of an MBSR intervention relative to a waitlist control condition . However , the FFMQ failed to show discriminant validity . Specifically , facets of the FFMQ were shown to increase over the course of the HEP intervention relative to the waitlist control condition . MBSR and HEP , in contrast , did not differ in changes in FFMQ score over time . Implication s of these findings for the measurement and theory of mindfulness and MBSR are discussed . ( PsycINFO Data base OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of a challenge with monosodium glutamate ( MSG ) as compared to placebo on the symptoms of fibromyalgia ( FM ) , in participants who initially experienced > 30 % remission of symptoms on an excitotoxin elimination diet . METHODS Fifty-seven FM patients who also had irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) were placed on a 4-week diet that excluded dietary additive excitotoxins including MSG and aspartame .  Thirty-seven people completed the diet and 84 % of those reported that > 30 % of their symptoms resolved , thus making them eligible to proceed to challenges . Subjects who improved on the diet were then r and omised to a 2-week double-blind placebo-controlled crossover challenge with MSG or placebo for 3 consecutive days each week . The primary outcome measure was total symptom score . Secondary outcome measures included visual analogue pain scales ( VAS for FM and IBS ) , an IBS Quality of Life Question naire ( IBS QOL ) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire-Revised ( FIQR ) . Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse crossover challenge results . RESULTS The MSG challenge , as compared to placebo , result ed in a significant return of symptoms ( total symptom score , p<0.02 ) ; a worsening of fibromyalgia severity as determined by the FIQR ( p<0.03 ) ; decreased quality of life in regards to IBS symptoms ( IBS QOL , p<0.05 ) ; and a non-significant trend toward worsening FM pain based on visual analogue scale ( VAS , p<0.07 ) . CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that dietary glutamate may be contributing to FM symptoms in some patients . Future research on the role of dietary excitotoxins in FM is warranted Background Fibromyalgia ( FM ) , one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders , is associated with high levels of impaired health and inadequate or limited symptom relief . The cause of this complex syndrome is unknown , and there is no known cure . Numerous research results indicate that a combination of physical exercise and mind-body therapy is effective in symptom management .  T’ai Chi , an ancient Chinese exercise , combines physical exercise with mind-body therapy . Purpose To investigate the effects of T’ai Chi exercise on FM symptoms and health-related quality of life . Design Pilot study , one group pre-to-post posttest design . Methods Participants with FM ( n = 39 ) formed a single group for 6 weeks of 1-hour , twice weekly T’ai Chi exercise classes .  FM symptoms and health-related quality of life were measured before and after exercise . Findings Twenty-one participants completed at least 10 of the 12 exercise sessions . Although the dropout rate was higher than expected , measurements on both the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) ( Buckhardt , Clark , & Bennett , 1991 ) and the Short Form-36 ( SF-36 ) ( Ware & Sherbourne , 1992 ) revealed statistically significant improvement in symptom management and health-related quality of life . Implication s for Nursing Research Knowledge of interventions to enhance health for the patient with musculoskeletal problems is a National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses priority . T’ai Chi is potentially beneficial to patients with FM . Further research is needed to support evidence -based practice Objective The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System ( PROMIS ) was developed to st and ardize measurement of clinical ly relevant patient-reported outcomes . This study evaluated the reliability and construct validity of select PROMIS static short-form ( SF ) instruments in women with fibromyalgia . Design Analysis of baseline data from the Fibromyalgia Activity Study with TENS ( FAST ) , a r and omized controlled trial of the efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation . Setting Dual site , university-based outpatient clinics . Subjects Women aged 20 to 67 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia . Methods Participants completed the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQR ) and 10 PROMIS static SF instruments . Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach alpha . Convergent validity was examined against the FIQR using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis . Results PROMIS static SF instruments had fair to high internal consistency ( Cronbach α = 0.58 to 0.94 , P < 0.05 ) . PROMIS ' physical function ' domain score was highly correlated with FIQR ' function ' score ( r = -0.73 ) . The PROMIS ' total ' score was highly correlated with the FIQR total score ( r = -0.72 ) . Correlations with FIQR total score of each of the three PROMIS domain scores were r = -0.65 for ' physical function , ' r = -0.63 for ' global , ' and r = -0.57 for ' symptom ' domain . PROMIS ' physical function , ' ' global , ' and ' symptom ' scores explained 58 % of the FIQR total score variance . Conclusions Select PROMIS static SF instruments demonstrate convergent validity with the FIQR , a legacy measure of fibromyalgia disease severity . These results highlight the potential utility of select PROMIS static SFs for assessment and tracking of patient-reported outcomes in fibromyalgia Background There is increasing recognition of mindfulness and mindfulness training as a way to decrease stress and increase psychological functioning . Purpose The aims of this study were to examine the effects of mindfulness stress reduction training on perceived stress and psychological well-being and to examine if changes in mindfulness mediate intervention effects on these outcomes . Methods Seventy women and one man with a previous cancer diagnosis ( mean age 51.8 years , st and ard deviation = 9.86 ) were r and omized into an intervention group or a wait-list control group . The intervention consisted of an 8-week mindfulness training course . Results Compared to participants in the control group , participants in the mindfulness training group had significantly decreased perceived stress and posttraumatic avoidance symptoms and increased positive states of mind . Those who participated in the intervention reported a significant increase in scores on the five-facet mindfulness question naire ( FFMQ ) when compared to controls . The increase in FFMQ score mediated the effects of the intervention on perceived stress , posttraumatic avoidance symptoms , and positive states of mind . Conclusions This study indicates that the improvements in psychological well-being result ing from mindfulness stress reduction training can potentially be explained by increased levels of mindfulness as measured with the FFMQ . The importance of these findings for future research in the field of mindfulness is discussed Fibromyalgia poses a challenge for therapy . Recent guidelines suggest that fibromyalgia should be treated within a multidisciplinary therapy approach . No data are available that evaluated multimodal treatment strategies of Integrative Medicine ( IM ) . We conducted a controlled , nonr and omized pilot study that compared two inpatient treatment strategies , an IM approach that included fasting therapy and a conventional rheumatology ( CM ) approach . IM used fasting cure and Mind-Body-Medicine as specific methods . Of 48 included consecutive patients , 28 were treated with IM , 20 with CM . Primary outcome was change in the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) score after the 2-week hospital stay . Secondary outcomes included scores of pain , depression , anxiety , and well being . Assessment s were repeated after 12 weeks . At 2 weeks , there were significant improvements in the FIQ ( P < 0.014 ) and for most of secondary outcomes for the IM group compared to the CM group . The beneficial effects for the IM approach were reduced after 12 weeks and no longer statistically significant with the exception of anxiety . Findings indicate that a multimodal IM treatment with fasting therapy might be superior to CM in the short term and not inferior in the mid term . Longer-term studies are warranted to assess the clinical impact of integrative multimodal treatment in fibromyalgia Objectives : Published preliminary findings from a r and omized-controlled trial suggest that an 8-week Yoga of Awareness intervention may be effective for improving symptoms , functional deficits , and coping abilities in fibromyalgia . The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the same intervention ’s posttreatment effects in a wait-list group and to test the intervention ’s effects at 3-month follow-up in the immediate treatment group . Methods : Unpaired t tests were used to compare data from a per protocol sample of 21 women in the immediate treatment group who had completed treatment and 18 women in the wait-list group who had completed treatment . Within-group paired t tests were performed to compare posttreatment data with 3-month follow-up data in the immediate treatment group . The primary outcome measure was the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire Revised ( FIQR ) . Multilevel r and om-effects models were also used to examine associations between yoga practice rates and outcomes . Results : Posttreatment results in the wait-list group largely mirrored results seen at posttreatment in the immediate treatment group , with the FIQR Total Score improving by 31.9 % across the 2 groups . Follow-up results showed that patients sustained most of their posttreatment gains , with the FIQR Total Score remaining 21.9 % improved at 3 months . Yoga practice rates were good , and more practice was associated with more benefit for a variety of outcomes . Discussion : These findings indicate that the benefits of Yoga of Awareness in fibromyalgia are replicable and can be maintained
No clinical or demographics explained as much variance in the FIQR total as any of the mindfulness subscales .
Fibromyalgia patients experience symptoms that may be alleviated by mindfulness interventions .
Baseline values for the observe subscale of the FFMQ were unexpectedly high .
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE A growing body of literature suggests that mindfulness techniques may be beneficial in fibromyalgia .
A recent systematic review and meta- analysis of six trials indicated improvement in depressive symptoms and quality of life , calling for increased rigor and use of st and ardized measures in future trials .
The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness [ as measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Question naire ( FFMQ ) ] and fibromyalgia impact [ as measured by the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQR ) ] .