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Targeting Daily Positive Events to Improve Emotional and Functional Well-Being in Adults With Fibromyalgia: Insights
Anthony Ong1, Kenneth Wilcox1, M Carrington Reid2
1Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
Background:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties, affecting individuals across all age groups. Positive affect (PA) interventions have shown promise in enhancing emotional well-being and pain management in patients with diverse chronic pain conditions. However, the efficacy of internet-delivered PA interventions for individuals with fibromyalgia remains understudied.
Objective:
This randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of a web-based PA regulation intervention-Lessons in Affect Regulation to Keep Stress and Pain Under Control (LARKSPUR)-in enhancing emotional and functional well-being among adults with fibromyalgia syndrome.
Methods:
A total of 95 participants with fibromyalgia syndrome aged 50 years and older (89/95, 94% female) were randomized to one of two fully automated conditions: (1) LARKSPUR (n=49) or (2) emotion reporting/attention control (n=46). At the postintervention and 1-month follow-up time points, participants completed 7 consecutive, end-of-day, web-based reports capturing positive events (PE), pain, fatigue, PA, and negative affect.
Results:
Compared to control, LARKSPUR resulted in greater improvements in daily affective responsivity to PE at the postintervention time point, including greater reductions in negative affect (bL-bC=-0.06, 95% highest posterior density interval [HPD] -0.10 to -0.02) and increases in PA (bL-bC=0.10, 95% HPD 0.02-0.19). Furthermore, across the postintervention and 1-month follow-up time points, LARKSPUR led to greater reductions in pain (bL-bC=-0.20, 95% HPD -0.36 to -0.04) and fatigue (bL-bC=-0.24, 95% HPD -0.41 to -0.06) following PE.
Conclusions:
This randomized controlled trial provides initial evidence that a web-based PA skills intervention can enhance emotional well-being and reduce pain and fatigue in aging adults with fibromyalgia.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04869345; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04869345.
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