Is fibromyalgia a distinct clinical entity? The disapproving rheumatologist's evidence

Authors
Citation
Ml. Cohen, Is fibromyalgia a distinct clinical entity? The disapproving rheumatologist's evidence, BEST PR R C, 13(3), 1999, pp. 421-425
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Rheumatology
Journal title
BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH IN CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
ISSN journal
15216942 → ACNP
Volume
13
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
421 - 425
Database
ISI
SICI code
1521-6942(199909)13:3<421:IFADCE>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome was an attempt to create, for the purposes of investi gation, a relatively homogeneous clinical entity out of the clinical phenom ena of musculoskeletal pain and tenderness. The attempt has foundered, aris ing out of circular argument and violation of its own criteria, thus creati ng an over-inclusive and ultimately meaningless label. The epistemological errors include the failure to distinguish a clinical feature from a disease process, the use of syndromic description without a unifying concept and f ailure to agree on the importance and biological nature of tenderness itsel f.