THE CHALLENGE OF FIBROMYALGIA: THE HYPNOTIC SOLUTION

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex and functional pain syndrome characterized by chronic, severe musculoskeletal widespread pain and hyperalgesia, associated with fatigue, non-restorative sleep, cognitive/emotional dysfunction, and compromised health-related quality of life (HRQOL).Pathogenesis of FMS is poorly understood, but an increasing body of evidence supports the association of childhood/adulthood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect in a significant subset of FMS patients. Victimization may serve as a mediator variable between trauma in childhood/adulthood and the development of chronic widespread pain even long after the traumatic event, suggesting that FMS might serve as a somatized equivalent of delayed post-traumatic stress disorder.Management and prognostic outcome of fibromyalgia patients may be challenging, as FMS seems to be refractory to most treatments. Pychological interventions have been claimed to be effective in cognitive modulation of fibromyalgic pain. A few studies suggest that difficult, FMS patients might benefit from hypnotherapy.The workshop will provide a systematic review of clinical and pathogenetic aspects of FMS as well as the current evidence on the role of hypnotherapy in these difficult pain populations. Participants will learn indirect, advanced hypnotherapeutic techniques for FMS pain control as well as hypnoanalytical approaches in selected cases.