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Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
Cognitive-Behavioral and Personal Construct Therapies for Depression in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized
Mari Aguilera1,2,3, Clara Paz4, Marta Salla5
1Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, Section of Cognitive Processes, Psychology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
Background/Objective:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that depressive symptoms can aggravate. The aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of Personal Construct Therapy (PCT), an approach that emphasizes identity features and interpersonal meanings as the focus of the treatment of depressive symptoms, in women with fibromyalgia.
Method:
We compared PCT with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in a multicenter parallel randomized trial. Women with fibromyalgia and depressive symptoms (n = 106) were randomly allocated to CBT (n = 55) or PCT (n = 51) in individual and modular formats to adjust to their needs. Analysis was by linear mixed-effects models.
Results:
Participants in both conditions had significantly reduced depressive symptoms, and we found no significant difference when comparing groups both post-treatment (β = -0.47, t = -0.49, p = .63) and at follow-up (β = -1.12, t = -1.09, p = .28). Results were similar between conditions for anxiety, fibromyalgia's impact, and the distribution of clinically significant changes in depressive symptoms and pain.
Conclusions:
PCT and CBT seem to be equally effective in the treatment of depressive symptoms, making PCT a viable alternative treatment.
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