Does Meditation Alleviate Anxiety and Physiological Symptoms Related to Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a stress-related disorder characterized by chronic pervasive pain, fatigue, and impaired functioning. Fibromyalgia patients often report increased distress and anxiety. The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention is an eight-week program originally designed for chronic pain patients. MBSR teaches participants to redirect attention in a moment-to-moment fashion towards the body in an effort to alleviate distress and anxiety. This study tested the effects of MBSR on anxiety and biofeedback measurements of heart rate, muscle tension, temperature and galvanic skin response with the hypothesis that MBSR would reduce anxiety and stress response activation. Forty-three women with fibromyalgia syndrome were screened for medications that could affect outcomes. Before the start of the intervention, questionnaires assessed demographics, pain ratings and symptoms of anxiety, and biofeedback measurements were collected. All measurements were repeated after the conclusion of the intervention. The effects of the MBSR intervention will be analyzed and results will be reported