Current Concepts and Treatment Options in the Management of Fibromyalgia

Nathan Li; Joshua Cooper; Tanisha Fleming; Stewart Lockett; William Sherman; Azem A Chami; Jamal Hasoon; Christopher L Robinson; Farnad Imani; Alan D Kaye

doi:10.64719/pb.16599

Current Concepts and Treatment Options in the Management of Fibromyalgia

Psychopharmacol Bull. 2026 Mar 11;56(2):149-162. doi: 10.64719/pb.16599.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Li, BS, Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
² Cooper, BS, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
³ Fleming, BS, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
⁴ Lockett, BS, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA.
⁵ Sherman, MD, Tulane University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New Orleans, LA, USA.
⁶ Chami, MD, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Department of Anesthesiology, Shreveport, LA, USA.
⁷ Hasoon, MD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
⁸ Robinson, MD, PhD, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁹ Imani, MD, Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR.
¹⁰ Kaye, MD, PhD, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Department of Anesthesiology, Shreveport, LA, USA.

PMID: 41821986
PMCID: PMC12976954 (available on 2027-03-11)
DOI: 10.64719/pb.16599

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a complex chronic pain syndrome associated with a broad constellation of symptoms, associated disorders, and possible risk factors. Although the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia remains unclear, there is promising research investigating neuroimaging, genetic and epigenetic markers, psychological alterations, and gut microbiome associations. Diagnostic criteria have evolved with time to better identify patients with fibromyalgia and differentiate the syndrome from other conditions. In this regard, diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome continue to present considerable challenges to clinicians related to the complexity, non-specific symptomology, and necessity of a multidisciplinary approach. The present investigation reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment options of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Keywords: chronic fatigue syndrome; chronic pain syndrome; fibromyalgia; pain management; stress.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chronic Pain / physiopathology
Chronic Pain / therapy
Fibromyalgia* / diagnosis
Fibromyalgia* / epidemiology
Fibromyalgia* / physiopathology
Fibromyalgia* / therapy
Humans