AN OPEN CLINICAL-TRIAL OF VENLAFAXINE TREATMENT OF FIBROMYALGIA

Of 15 patients with fibromyalgia who were first evaluated for the pres ence of axis I psychiatric diagnoses by use of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, 11 completed an open 8-week trial with the nove l antidepressant venlafaxine. Six (55%) of 11 completers experienced a greater than or equal to 50% reduction of fibromyalgia symptoms. The presence of lifetime psychiatric disorders, particularly depressive an d anxiety disorders, predicted a positive response to venlafaxine. The se findings suggest that it is important to assess for comorbid psychi atric disorders in patients with fibromyalgia and that venlafaxine may be helpful to some of these patients.