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Fibromyalgia - Risk Factors

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fibromyalgia.

Alternative Names

Fibromyositis; Fibrositis; Myofascial pain syndrome

Risk Factors:

About 5 million Americans have fibromyalgia. The condition affects women more often than men.

Some evidence suggests that several factors may make people more susceptible to fibromyalgia. These risk factors include:

Being female
Coming from a very stressful culture or environment
Having a psychological vulnerability to stress
Having had difficult experiences in childhood

Women

Nine out of 10 fibromyalgia patients are women. Women may be more prone to develop fibromyalgia during menopause.

Age

The disorder usually occurs in people ages 20 - 60 years, though it can occur at any time. Some studies have noted peaks at around age 35. Others note that fibromyalgia is most common in middle-aged women. In one study, cases of fibromyalgia increased with age, and reached a frequency of more than 7% among people in their 60s and 70s.

Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia. This type of fibromyalgia appears in adolescents, typically after age 13, with a peak incidence at age 14. It is uncommon, but studies indicate that its incidence may be increasing. Symptoms are similar to adult fibromyalgia, but outcomes may be better in young people.

Family Factors

Studies report a higher incidence of fibromyalgia among family members. It is not clear whether genetic or psychological factors, or both, are involved. Studies have found that:

About a third of children whose mothers have fibromyalgia also develop the disorder.
About two-thirds of parents who had children with fibromyalgia report some sort of chronic pain. About 10% of them have fibromyalgia.

Resources

www.rheumatology.org -- American College of Rheumatology
www.niams.nih.gov -- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
www.arthritis.org -- Arthritis Foundation
www.fmaware.org -- National Fibromyalgia Foundation
www.fmpartnership.org -- National Fibromyalgia Partnership
www.fmnetnews.com -- Fibromyalgia Network
www.aapainmanage.org -- American Academy of Pain Management
www.ampainsoc.org -- American Pain Society
www.medicalacupuncture.org -- American Association of Medical Acupuncture
www.asch.net -- American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
www.aabt.org -- Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy
www.clinicaltrials.gov -- Find a clinical trial

References

Abeles M, Solitar BM, Pillinger MH, Abeles AM. Update on fibromyalgia therapy. Am J Med. 2008;121:555-561.

Arnold LM, Goldenberg DL, Stanford SB, Lalonde JK, Sandhu HS, Keck PE, et al. Gabapentin in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2007;56:1336-1344.

Geisser ME, Glass JM, Rajcevska LD, Clauw DJ, Williams DA, Kileny PR. A psychophysical study of auditory and pressure sensitivity in patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls. J Pain. 2008;9:417-422.

Guedj E, Cammilleri S, Niboyet J, Dupont P, Vidal E, Dropinski JP, Mundler O. Clinical correlate of brain SPECT perfusion abnormalities in fibromyalgia. J Nucl Med. 2008;49:1798-1803.

Gusi N, Tomas-Carus P. Cost-utility of an 8-month aquatic training for women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Res Ther. 2008;10:R24.

Harris RE, Clauw DJ, Scott DJ, McLean SA, Gracely RH, Zubieta JK. Decreased central u-opioid receptor availability in fibromyalgia. J Neurosci. 2007;27:10000-10006.

Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, Arnold LM, Choi H, Deyo RA, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States. Part II. Arthritis Rheum. 2008;58:26-35.

Mannerkorpi K, Henriksson C. Non-pharmacological treatment of chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007;21:513-534.

Matsushita K, Masuda A, Tei C. Efficacy of Waon therapy for fibromyalgia. Intern Med. 2008;47:1473-1476.

McCabe CS, Cohen H, Blake DR. Somaesthetic disturbances in fibromyalgia are exaggerated by sensory-motor conflict: implications for chronicity of the disease? Rheumatology. 2007;46:1587-1592.

Rooks DS, Gautam S, Romeling M, Cross ML, Stratigakis D, Evans B, et al. Group exercise, education, and combination self-management in women with fibromyalgia. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167;2192-2200.

Schweinhardt P. Fibromyalgia: a disorder of the brain? Neuroscientist. 2008;14:415-421.

Targino RA, Imamura M, Kaziyama HH, Souza LP, Hsing WT, Furlan AD, et al. A randomized controlled trial of acupuncture added to usual treatment for fibromyalgia. J Rehabil Med. 2008;40:582-588.

Van Koulil S, Effting M, Kraaimaat FW, van Lankveld W, van Helmond T, Cats H, et al. Cognitive-behavioural therapies and exercise programmes for patients with fibromyalgia; state of the art and future directions. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007;66:571-581.

Verbunt JA, Pernot DH, Smeets RJ. Disability and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2008;6:8.

Reviewed last on: 12/29/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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