Tailored Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Fibromyalgia Patients at Risk

The fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic condition with widespread pain that poses a great challenge for patients, rheumatologists and society because of the lack of optimal treatment options. There is extensive evidence that, in comparison with patients with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia patients report higher levels of functional disability, pain, fatigue, and lower levels of quality of life. Although effectiveness of pharmacological agents and other interventions is generally limited, most promising effects have been found for non-pharmacological treatments, particularly those with a primary focus on cognitive-behavioral treatment components. However, also these treatment outcomes are characterized by large individual variation. Particularly patients with less impairments in daily life seem to benefit less from these treatments. In line with the international literature, previous findings of the research group suggest that effectiveness might be increased when tailored cognitive-behavioural treatments are solely offered to patients at risk.

In the present project the effects of tailored interventions based on cognitive-behavioral factors for patients at risk are studied. In a randomized, controlled trial, fibromyalgia patients are screened for risk profiles. Patients at risk will be assigned to tailored cognitive or behavioral treatment conditions, depending on their risk profile with respect to cognitive-behavioral factors. Half of the patients are subsequently randomly assigned to a waiting list control condition. It is expected that this tailored treatment approach will increase magnitude and maintenance of treatment effects for pain, disability, fatigue and increased quality of life, which means an important step forward for patients, involved professionals and society.

Inclusion criteria

• fibromyalgia according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)

Exclusion criteria

• physical or psychological comorbidity that interferes with cognitive-behavioral treatment
• participation in other clinical trials
• other psychological treatments
• pregnancy
• illiteracy
• difficulties with understanding Dutch language