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      • HARVEST
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      The efficacy of a combined cognitive-behavioural and interpersonal therapy approach to the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome : a randomized controlled trial

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      Date
      2008
      Author
      Langford, Melanie Marie
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Level
      Doctoral
      Metadata
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      Abstract
      The purpose of the current study was to develop a manualized treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) and to examine the efficacy of the treatment in a randomized controlled clinical trial. FM is a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder characterized by tender points and generalized pain. Depression, chronic fatigue, and sleep disturbance are common. A biopsychosocial model served as a framework for understanding FM by integrating psychological, social, and physical factors. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), an empirically validated treatment for arthritis, has also been used with FM patients in an attempt to improve pain control, reduce disability, and increase self-efficacy. Overall, the attention/placebo controlled studies employing CBT as a treatment for FM show that it is not superior to a credible attention placebo. The current study attempted to combine the necessary components of CBT with interpersonal therapy to address relational patterns and personality characteristics that can affect ability to cope with chronic pain. One hundred and five women diagnosed with FM by a rheumatologist were randomly assigned to the CBT-interpersonal treatment condition or an attention-control condition. There were 8 treatment groups with a mean of 6-7 participants in each. The treatment consisted of weekly 2-hour sessions over 8 consecutive weeks. Outcome measures included: FM impact, pain, health care utilization, depression, coping, and self-efficacy. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. Results showed that the impact of FM symptoms was reduced following treatment compared to the control group and this was statistically and clinically significant, but was not maintained at 3-month follow-up. Significant improvements were also observed in coping strategies, some of which were maintained at follow-up. Importantly, self-efficacy improved significantly following treatment compared to the control group. Self-efficacy beliefs have been related to pain, coping efforts, disability, and psychological functioning. Directions for future research may include a focus on long-term maintenance of treatment gains that may be mediated by improvements in self-efficacy. There is strong evidence that changes in self-efficacy are enduring and affect changes in health behaviours and health status.
      Degree
      Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
      Department
      Psychology
      Program
      Psychology
      Supervisor
      MacGregor, Michael Wm.
      Committee
      McMullen, Linda; Busch, Angela; Buckelew, Susan; von Baeyer, Carl
      Copyright Date
      2008
      URI
      http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-07232008-113842
      Subject
      fibromyalgia syndrome
      interpersonal therapy
      cognitive-behavioural therapy
      randomized controlled trial
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