Factors predisposing to the resort of complementary therapies in patients with fibromyalgia

Summary This study examined the factors influencing the use of complementary therapies in patients with fibromyalgia. A postal questionnaire was sent to 90 patients who had attended a rheumatology out-patient clinic in West Yorkshire for their diagnosis or treatment of fibromyalgia. Seventy-one per cent of fibromyalgia patients had used or were using complementary therapies. Patients who were using complementary therapies were of a higher socio-economic group (p<0.001). The most popular therapy was oral supplementation. The duration of complementary therapies ranged from 3 months to 26 years (median=3). The number of therapies used by each patient ranged from 1 to 10 (median=3). The duration of fibromyalgia was associated with both the duration of complementary therapies (p<0.001) and the number of therapies used (p<0.05). The most popular source of advice for the decision to use complementary therapies was from a magazine (40%). Patients using complementary therapies were less likely to be satisfied with their current hospital treatment and turned to complementary therapies in the chance of relief from their fibromyalgia. The relatively high cost and lack of information on complementary therapies appeared to dissuade those patients who chose not to use it.