Group Psychotherapy With Fibromyalgia Patients: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
• Rheumatology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and significant psychosocial distress.
• Group psychotherapy (GP) is a common intervention, but its efficacy in FMS requires further investigation.
• Understanding factors influencing GP effectiveness is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the factors influencing the efficacy of group psychotherapy interventions for fibromyalgia syndrome.
• To compare the effectiveness of multidisciplinary (MT) versus unidimensional GP approaches in FMS.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (Scopus, Web of Sciences, CINAHL, BMJ, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost).
• Keywords included "group psychotherapy" and "fibromyalgia".
• Thirty original studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Cognitive behavior therapy was the most frequently employed psychological intervention.
• Multidisciplinary (MT) interventions were slightly superior to unidimensional group psychotherapy (GP) overall.
• MTs showed greater improvements in primary outcomes (pain and fibromyalgia impact), whereas GPs were more effective for secondary (psychosocial) outcomes.

Conclusions:

• While methodological variations exist, interventions in MT settings should comprehensively address the biopsychosocial nature of FMS.
• Tailoring interventions to target specific outcomes (pain vs. psychosocial) may enhance treatment effectiveness.
• Further research comparing standardized MT and GP protocols is warranted.