Sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in fibromyalgia

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2000 Apr;2(2):124-30. doi: 10.1007/s11926-000-0052-4.

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of generalized muscle pain that is also associated with equally distressing symptoms of sleep disturbance and fatigue. FM shows clinical overlap with other stress-associated disorders, including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and depression. All of these conditions have the features of disrupted sleep patterns and dysregulated biologic circadian rhythms, such as stress hormone secretion. This review focuses on the role of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in FM and, in the absence of any specific treatment for FM, presents a pragmatic therapeutic approach aimed at identifying and treating comorbid sleep and depressive disorders, optimizing sleep habits, and judicious use of pharmacologic agents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Fibromyalgia / diagnosis
  • Fibromyalgia / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / diagnosis
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / epidemiology*