Fibromyalgia (Canada)

Interventions for Fibromyalgia-related sleep problems

Addressing priority 3: Technology Assessment Report commissioned by NIHR HTA Programme

What is the evidence for interventions used to manage sleep disturbances in people with fibromyalgia? A comprehensive evidence synthesis to inform clinical practice and future research

Addressing priority 3: NIHR research in progress

Fibromyalgia is a common long-term condition, characterised by persistent pain all over the body, sleep disturbance and fatigue. It affects 1 in 20 adults in the UK. There is no cure for fibromyalgia but there are several treatments that relieve some of the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with. Current treatments for improving sleep problems include medications such as amitriptyline, and non-drug interventions such as exercise, massage, cognitive behavioural therapy, dietary and lifestyle modifications, and complementary and alternative therapies (e.g. acupuncture). There is uncertainty about which interventions are most effective in improving sleep and which require further evaluation in future clinical studies. This study will combine information from studies across the world that have evaluated the benefits, harms and acceptability of both drug and non-drug therapies for helping people with sleep problems due to fibromyalgia. It will also consider the characteristics of the tools used to measure sleep outcomes in people with fibromyalgia and incorporate information on the personal experiences and expectations of treatments gathered from those who experience sleep problems because of fibromyalgia.