Mind-body therapy for treating fibromyalgia: a systematic review

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic and disabling condition that presents treatment challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. The objective of this review was to systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of mind-body therapies for FM.

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, and CINAHL databases from their inception to December 2023. Eligible articles included adults diagnosed with FM participating in a mind-body therapy intervention and were published from the beginning of 2012 onwards. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists.

Twenty-seven studies (1969 participants) were included, comprising 22 randomized controlled trials and 5 quasi-experimental studies. Mind-body therapies included guided imagery (n = 5), mindfulness-based stress reduction (n = 5), qi gong (n = 5), tai chi (n = 5), biofeedback (n = 3), yoga (n = 2), mindfulness awareness training (n = 1), and progressive muscle relaxation (n = 1). With the exception of mindfulness-based stress reduction, all therapies had at least 1 study showing significant improvements in pain at the end of treatment. Three or more studies on qi gong and tai chi demonstrated significant improvements in fatigue and multidimensional function, with tai chi showing the most evidence for improvement in anxiety and depression. Approximately one-third of the studies reported on adverse events.

This systematic review found that mind-body therapies are potentially beneficial for adults with FM. Further research is necessary to determine if the positive effects observed post-intervention are sustained.

Open Science Framework (https://osf.io) (September 12, 2023; https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/6w7ac).