Improving Sleep for People with Fibromyalgia: Evidence from Recent Research

Sleep problems are one of the most challenging symptoms for people living with fibromyalgia. Poor sleep can make pain and fatigue worse, making daily life even more difficult. To address this, Danica Cassar, health psychologist at Willingness, conducted a systematic review. She examined the latest evidence on how multi-component interventions can help improve sleep quality for people with fibromyalgia.

About the Research

The review, titled The effectiveness of multi-component interventions on sleep quality for individuals with fibromyalgia: a systematic review, was completed in 2024 as part of Danica Cassar’s doctoral research at the University of Stirling. The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference 2024 in Bath, United Kingdom.

The review involved a comprehensive search across seven major databases, including Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO, for studies published up to 2022. The focus was on any combined-treatment approach for improving sleep problems in fibromyalgia. Out of this search, seven relevant studies met the inclusion criteria. The interventions studied ranged from cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and physical exercise to pharmacological treatments and mindfulness practices. All studies measured sleep quality using validated instruments. The review also assessed the quality of each study using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and brought together the findings to provide an overall picture.

Results

While details of each study’s results were beyond the scope of the abstract, the preliminary conclusion was that multi-component interventions show promise in improving sleep outcomes for fibromyalgia sufferers. However, the efficacy can depend on the combination of strategies used. Notably, the review noted the need for higher-quality trials and more consistent outcome measures. By aggregating evidence, the work provides clinicians with a clearer understanding of which therapeutic components (e.g. CBT for insomnia, exercise, relaxation techniques, medication) yield the best improvements in sleep for this population.

Impact

This systematic review provides valuable guidance for evidence-based treatment of fibromyalgia. Since poor sleep can make pain and fatigue worse, finding effective ways to improve sleep could make a real difference to the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. Sharing these findings at a UK conference helped inform health psychologists internationally. The research also supports training for other practitioners, as part of Danica Cassar’s role as a lecturer and supervisor. The review aligns with her wider work on long-term health conditions, and is currently being prepared for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Practical Implications

• For individuals: Trying a combination of approaches, such as CBT for sleep and gentle exercise, may be more effective than using a single treatment.
• For health professionals: Health practitioners should consider referring patients for multi-component interventions and encourage a holistic approach.
• For researchers: There is a need for more robust trials using consistent measures to strengthen the evidence base.