Improving Quality of Life of Fibromyalgia Patients

Evaluation of Improving Quality of Life of Fibromyalgia Patients Treated With a Plurifocal Program : a Controlled Study With 12 Months Monitoring.

Comparison of two treatments of fibromyalgia; the QOL score should improve rather and, twelve months after the end of the program, remain higher in "Plurifocal educational group" than in control group

Comparing two forms of non-drug treatment of fibromyalgia: "Information" (an information group session on the fibromyalgia management modalities) versus "Plurifocal educational program " (intensive group program of 8 weeks, including, in addition to the briefing, measures and exercises for the implementation of the principles of managing fibromyalgia, and cognitive-behavioral therapy).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fibromyalgia Patients according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology defined by:

  • diffuse pain evolving for over three months
  • pain on palpation of at least 11 of the 18 sites listed

• age between 18 and 65

• FIQ Score higher than 35/100 at inclusion

• Ability to respond to questionnaires

• monitoring possibility for at least a year

• Affiliation to the French Health System (social security)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Association with chronic pain from other sources which can interfere with fibromyalgia assessment
• Inability to follow the full educational program
• previous participation in an educational program of same nature
• psychological disorder (personality disorder or behaviour, schizophrenia), preventing participation in the program group