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. 2014 Fall;14(3):343-9.

Fibromyalgia: can online cognitive behavioral therapy help?

Gwendoline Menga  1 , Sharon Ing  2 , Omar Khan  2 , Bobby Dupre  3 , Adriana C Dornelles  4 , Anika Alarakhia  2 , William Davis  5 , Jerald Zakem  5 , Tamika Webb-Detiege  5 , Eve Scopelitis  5 , Robert Quinet  5
Affiliations

Fibromyalgia: can online cognitive behavioral therapy help?

Gwendoline Menga et al. Ochsner J. 2014 Fall.

Abstract

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven useful in treating fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety. Computerized delivery of CBT allows increased access to such therapy. This study assessed the effect of internet-based CBT on Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) composite scores and tender point assessments.

Methods: This 12-week randomized controlled trial included patients ≥18 years of age with 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia and mild to moderate depression and anxiety. A total of 56 subjects were randomized into either a 6-week internet-based CBT group (MoodGYM) or a control group (standard care). We evaluated patients in both groups at 1-, 6-, and 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome measure was change in FIQ composite score. A secondary outcome measure was change in tender point assessment.

Results: The mean age of study participants was 55 years, and 88% were female. Mean FIQ scores were significantly lower in the MoodGYM group compared to the control group (P<0.05 for group differences at 6 and 12 weeks). Mean tender point scores were also significantly lower in the MoodGYM group (P<0.001 at 6 and 12 weeks). We found no significant difference in the FIQ scores across the 3 timepoints in the MoodGYM group, but tender points showed a significant negative trend from baseline to 12-week follow-up.

Conclusion: Patients in the internet-based MoodGYM CBT program had lower FIQ and tender point scores at 6- and 12-week follow-up. Internet-based CBT could be beneficial in the treatment of mild to moderate depression and anxiety in patients with fibromyalgia by allowing increased access to CBT.

Keywords: Cognitive therapy; fibromyalgia; therapy–computer-assisted.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the subject matter of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
MoodGYM training program web page.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Study inclusion flow diagram.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Mean change in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score over 12 weeks in the intervention (MoodGYM) and control groups.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Mean change in the number of tender points (TP) over 12 weeks in the intervention (MoodGYM) and control groups. ‡Denotes statistical significance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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