[Fibromyalgia: a disease of psychic trauma?]

Chronic unexplained pain may be a somatic manifestation of psychological distress - often untreated distress. The association between psychic trauma, posttraumatic symptoms, psychic dissociation, and somatoform disorders is currently well documented. When examining a patient with chronic pain syndrome, it is important to consider its psychic dimension early on and to look for a history of psychic trauma. This can help avoid prolonged chronic effects and the emergence of psychiatric comorbidity. There is currently no consensual medication strategy for treatment of unexplained chronic pain syndrome. Multidisciplinary outpatient management is necessary in these complex cases, which require simultaneous medical and psychiatric referrals.