Review Jan 2021: No effectiveness proven for most therapies for fibromyalgia

Conclusions and relevance: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that most of the currently available therapies for the management of fibromyalgia are not supported by high-quality evidence. Some therapies may reduce pain and improve QOL in the short to medium term, although the effect size of the associations might not be clinically important to patients.

Additional summary
Findings In this systematic review, the effectiveness of most therapies for fibromyalgia was not supported. Strong evidence supported only cognitive behavioral therapy for pain, as well as antidepressants and central nervous system depressants for pain and quality of life, but these associations were small. (i.e. CBT, antidepressions and CNS-depressants help, but only a little bit)

Pity, but we are not surprised! :roll_eyes:

Funny how this contradicts the 2014-study used as mainstay by the English wikipedia…

Conclusions and relevance: Fibromyalgia and other “centralized” pain states are much better understood now than ever before. Fibromyalgia may be considered as a discrete diagnosis or as a constellation of symptoms characterized by central nervous system pain amplification with concomitant fatigue, memory problems, and sleep and mood disturbances. Effective treatment for fibromyalgia is now possible.

Clauw DJ (April 2014). “Fibromyalgia: a clinical review”. JAMA

Neither is the pain amplification theory proven yet, it is one of several theories, which is being given up more and more, according to newer studies. Nor is it true that “effective treatment for fibromyalgia is now possible”, whether this is meant because the diagnosis is becoming clearer or generally.

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