A 38-year-old man with fibromyalgia is experiencing depressive symptoms. How could this be related to his fibromyalgia, and what steps could be taken to manage this?
Depression is common in people with fibromyalgia, possibly due to shared genetic and environmental risk factors, the chronic pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia, or the impact of fibromyalgia on quality of life. A multi-faceted approach is often necessary for treatment. This can include psychological therapies (like cognitive-behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based stress reduction), regular exercise (which can help both mood and fibromyalgia symptoms), and possibly medication, such as antidepressants.