Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A literature search of articles from 2002-2019 was performed using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, LILACS, IBECS, CRD, and Epistemonikos databases, to analyze the effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Twenty-seven articles were selected in which CBT was performed exclusively by specialist physicians, associated or not with conventional pharmacological treatment and/or physical exercise. In most articles, CBT worked with self-knowledge and cognitive restructuring, attempting to reduce pain perception, and it showed a general improvement in daily activities by decreasing patient’s limitations, such as morning stiffness. The literature showed significant correlations of CBT in pain processing over time. When CBT was compared to conventional pharmacological therapy, a certain superiority of CBT could be observed concerning the quality of life, catastrophizing, and acceptance of pain. However, when they were simultaneously applied, this improvement in quality of life was not observed.