Fibromyalgia (FM) is classified as a chronic pain condition accompanied by symptoms of fatigue, sleep problems, problems with cognition, negative mood, limited functional status, and the presence of other chronic overlapping pain conditions. Comprehensive assessment of all of these components can be challenging. This paper provides an overview of patient-reported approaches that can be taken to assess FM in the contexts of diagnosis, symptom monitoring, phenotyping/characterization, and for purposes of clinical trials.
Key points
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Physicians and/or patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remain the most sensitive and specific means of diagnosing fibromyalgia (FM) in clinical or research settings.
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The primary uses of PROs for FM include diagnostics, disease monitoring, phenotyping/characterization, and as outcomes for clinical trials.
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FM is a multifaceted condition requiring a multifaceted assessment if the complexity of the condition is to be represented in a reliable and valid manner.