A Psychoeducational Group Intervention for Fibromyalgia Patients

This study examined the effect of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational treatment group on Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) pain, depression, catastrophizing, and quality of life. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment—Abbreviated Version were used to assess these constructs in 15 participants. The sample was composed entirely of female participants and was predominantly middle aged, which is typical of the FMS population. Two separate groups of FMS patients—seven in Group 1, eight in Group 2—completed a 10-week psychoeducational intervention where they were presented with information regarding symptom management as well as psychoeducational materials to individually complete. This study used paired sample Mests to measure pre/post within-group differences and independent-sample /-tests to assess between-group and change rate differences. Group 1 demonstrated improvements with regard to pain and catastrophizing, but only pain reductions were maintained at a 10-week follow-up. Group 2 exhibited gains for the outcomes variables of depression and quality of life. Single-Vcase analyses generated support for an intervention effect on at least one outcome variable for six of the eight individuals in Group 2. Despite the limits of small sample size, depressed statistical power, and high outcome score variability, modest support was found for the positive effect of a psychoeducational intervention on FMS symptom management