Randomized controlled trial of a therapeutic intervention group in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

To evaluate the efficacy of a weekly interdisciplinary program (WIP) consisted of educational activities, physical therapy, stretching, ergonomics, posture guidance combined with cognitive behavioral strategies and approaches to psychosocial and occupational factors in order to determine whether this intervention would be effective to short and medium-term improvement of symptoms in these patients.

This was a single-center study, randomized single blind controlled trial with a sample test group (T), with a diagnosis of FMS (n = 12), and a control group (C) subjected to Pain Clinic referral (n = 15). The instruments used at two different times were the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Post-Sleep Protocol (PSI). To assess quality of life, we used the SF-12.

In samples, both groups were predominantly female, mean age of 42.5 ± 9.8 years, 43% married, average schooling of 8.3 ± 4.5 years. It was reported a mean of 4.2 years pain and an average of two years for the diagnosis of SFM from the group T. There was statistical difference between the groups in terms of efficacy post intervention WIP, in almost all outcome measures.

It was found that weekly interdisciplinary program (WIP) has contributed to improving the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia.