There does not appear to be any profound differences between so-called exposure-based CBT and traditional CBT in the treatment of fibromyalgia, according to a study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. Both forms of treatment produced a significant reduction in symptoms in people affected by the disease. The study is one of the largest to date to compare different treatment options for fibromyalgia and is published in the journal PAIN.
I’m not sure I agree with the premise of this. Its approaching it as if it is psychological. We have already seen studies that have shown conditions like this such as ME/CFS and long covid have a physiological component to them.
Any positive result of this is likely because of either more exposure to the outside world which could fit in with pacing, or patients feeling happier and the pain, fatigue feeling less of a burden.
It would be nice if they spent more studies testing approaches based on actual conditions rather than reapplying silver bullets to everything. CBT is a useful psychological treatment, but physiological conditions need a physiological approach.
Edit: imagine applying CBT with cancer and patients feeling happier and less pain. It doesn’t mean it treated the condition, it treated symptoms or emotions. These approaches feel like a joke.
One of the things that drives me crazy about fibromyalgia research is that every tested treatment seems to “help” 60% of people. CBT, acupuncture, stretching, going for a walk/run, and gabapentin all have studies saying they work for 60%. It really makes me question if 60% of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia have something completely different than the fibromyalgia I have.
I’m not sure I agree with the premise of this. Its approaching it as if it is psychological. We have already seen studies that have shown conditions like this such as ME/CFS and long covid have a physiological component to them.
Any positive result of this is likely because of either more exposure to the outside world which could fit in with pacing, or patients feeling happier and the pain, fatigue feeling less of a burden.
It would be nice if they spent more studies testing approaches based on actual conditions rather than reapplying silver bullets to everything. CBT is a useful psychological treatment, but physiological conditions need a physiological approach.
Edit: imagine applying CBT with cancer and patients feeling happier and less pain. It doesn’t mean it treated the condition, it treated symptoms or emotions. These approaches feel like a joke.
One of the things that drives me crazy about fibromyalgia research is that every tested treatment seems to “help” 60% of people. CBT, acupuncture, stretching, going for a walk/run, and gabapentin all have studies saying they work for 60%. It really makes me question if 60% of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia have something completely different than the fibromyalgia I have.