Fibromyalgia : a psychological therapy reduces pain

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Published the 26.09.2017 at 18h52

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Keywords :

fibrfibromyalgiethérapie comportementalepsychologie

Fibromyalgia is a complex disease, probably in the neurological causes, but of which the exact origin is still unclear. Its treatment is also. Painkillers and antidepressants can be prescribed, but in the face of their lack of effectiveness on, some turn to techniques non-drug.

The relaxation, in the first place, has shown its effectiveness. The cognitive-behavioral therapies also. An american doctor, Howard Schubinder, director of the Mind body medicine program, hospital Providence Southfield (Michigan, Usa), has developed a new approach called Emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET).

In a clinical trial, patients with fibromyalgia were tested. After eight sessions of 90 minutes and a follow-up of six months, more than a third (35 %) of patients reported feeling “better” or ” much better “.

Emotional experiences

The therapy encourages the speech on emotional experiences related to trauma, conflict or relationship problems.

“Many people with fibromyalgia have faced the adversity in their lives, such as victimization, family problems, or internal conflicts, which can all create emotions that are important that are often suppressed or avoided,” says Mark Lumley, professor of psychology at Wayne State University (Usa), who led the study. The latest research in neuroscience suggests that they may strongly contribute to pain and other physical symptoms. “

The principle of the therapy is therefore to help patients to overcome these emotional disorders to reduce their symptoms, more than simply accompany them in the acceptance of their fibromyalgia.