Fibromyalgia Associated Syndromes

SUMMARY

Objectives: To describe the syndromes that share overlapping clinical features with fibromyalgia [FMS].

Findings: There are a number of semantic terms currently used to described systemic syndromes that share overlapping features with FMS. These include chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, somatoform disorders, and Gulf War Illnesses. There are also a number of regional or “organ-specific” syndromes that overlap with these conditions that have as their common features regional pain, with and without dysfunction of internal organs.

Conclusions: In aggregate, chronic multisymptom illnesses such as FMS are extremely common. Hallmarks of these syndromes include non-nociceptive pain, fatigue, memory difficulties, and dysfunction of visceral organs.

KEYWORDS:

• Fibromyalgia
• pain
• fatigue
• syndromes