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Objectives: In this study we tried to determine if a combined treatment of psychomotor therapy and marital counselling was suitable for treatment of the fibromyalgia syndrome. Methods: Fifty fibromyalgia patients were treated, after psychological and medical screening, with group psychomotor therapy combined with marital counselling for couples. Fifty fibromyalgia patients participated as non-treatment controls. The treatment goal was to help the patient learn to cope with the disabilities of the syndrome. The therapy consisted of psychomotor and behavioral therapy techniques to enhance relaxation, assertiveness and learning to differentiate between the complaints of the syndrome and other bodily and emotional sensations. Results: The patients 70% reported to be satisfied with regard to self-confidence and methods to enhance relaxation. Many patients 66% reported improvement in their ability to deal with the disabilities. The drop-out percentage was rather high; 33%. These data were not confirmed by the assessment material SCL-90R and UCL, which were applied prior to directly after, and 6 months after treatment. There were no significant differences compared to the non-treatment controls. Conclusions: The current treatment program was not sufficient to enhance significant and durable changes in fibromyalgia patients. Further modification of the treatment program and research seems to be necessary.
Voogd et al. (Fri,) studied this question.