Fibromyalgia syndrome a decade later: what have we learned?

Abstract

Despite substantial interest and investigation during the past 10 years, fibromyalgia continues to provoke many controversies. The major issues discussed in this review include the diagnostic utility of fibromyalgia, psychiatric and central nervous system factors, therapy and outcome, and compensation and disability. It is important to recognize the psychosocial factors that distinguish patients with fibromyalgia from persons in the community who meet criteria for the syndrome but who do not seek medical care. Such factors may be among the most important in long-term treatment.