Maintaining Musculoskeletal Health (MAmMOTH) Study

Disease - Fibromyalgia

Lead applicant - Professor Gary Macfarlane

Organisation - University of Aberdeen

Type of grant - Clinical Studies

Status of grant - Active

Amount of the original award - £809,402.97

Start date - 1 Mat 2015

Reference - 20748

Public Summary

What are the aims of this research?

The aim of this research project is to investigate the success of cognitive behaviour therapy by telephone in preventing the development of chronic widespread pain (CWP) in fibromyalgia patients and to assess its cost effectiveness.

Why is this research important?

Patients with fibromyalgia commonly experience CWP in their muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is important to manage the symptoms of CWP as quickly as possible because the longer pain lasts, the less likelihood there is of being able to successfully treat it. However, CWP is very difficult to treat, so therapies which reduce the risk of a patient developing the condition are needed Previously, this research group demonstrated that when patients with CWP received a form of talking therapy called cognitive behaviour therapy by telephone, they experienced long-lasting improvements in their symptoms.

How will the findings benefit patients?

If this full trial of telephone-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy is successful, it will be the first treatment to reduce the number of patients with fibromyalgia and related conditions who develop CWP. Cognitive behavioural therapy by telephone promises to be cost-effective for the NHS so if it is found to be beneficial, it may lead to a preventative strategy which could be widely available.