Diagnostic Test for Fibromyalgia? Results of Imaging Study
NEWSBRIEF: A study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine provides evidence of abnormal brain activity in fibromyalgia that is visible on a special kind of scan.
The scan, called single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT), showed abnormal blood flow in the brains of people with fibromyalgia - high levels of blood in an area known to deal with pain processing, and low levels in areas believed to deal with emotional response to pain. People who reported more severe fibromyalgia symptoms, based on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, had greater abnormalities in cranial blood flow.
Significantly, researchers say levels of abnormal blood flow were not linked to anxiety and depression.
This study provides further evidence that fibromyalgia is a physiological disorder and that's it's based on neurological dysfunction. Researchers say the findings could be used in clinical trials to better gauge the effectiveness of treatments. It also could be used to confirm the severity of the illness and may someday lead to an objective diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Related Content: What Causes Fibromyalgia?
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Comments
This is great news, but I wonder if they will now classify fibromites as having an actual illness/disorder/disease as opposed to having a syndrome?
The World Health Organization has recognized fibromyalgia as an organic disease for years, however, the insurance business has big money invested in fibromyalgia not being clinically recognized as an organic disease. They fund the mind/body crowd that insists, without evidence, that fibromyalgia is a psychosocial condition. Eventually clinical medicine will have overwhelming evidence, but at the rate the government, through the NIH, funds research that is something more likely for our great grandchildren to rejoice about.
For those interested in more clinical research by the researcher that did this study, google Eric Guedj and fibromyalgia. And if you look under his references it will lead you to even further evidence.
Just a quick note. Fibromyalgia has a wonderful national advocacy group that has done great things in getting greater awareness, funding, and research into the public sphere. I’ve met these people, and can’t say enough concerning their determination and effectiveness. They are truly are advocate, and I believe one of the main forces responsible for the recognition that Fibromyalgia now has.
Their main web site is: http://www.fmaware.org
Their main research and education website (aimed more at doctors and scientists is:
http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hcp_home
I encourage you to contact them and see how you can get involved. There’s no point in reinventing the wheel if we don’t need to…
It sounds to me that the study reinforces the evidence that fibromyalgis is, indeed, a mindbody syndrome. Having been a fibro sufferer for many years, I have seen a direct link between my repressed emotions and my pain. See www.yourpainisreal.com, Dr. Howard Schubiner’s website. It’s very helpful.