Art as a Therapeutic Tool in the Rehabilitation of Patients With Fibromyalgia: the University Museum as a Setting for an Integrative Medicine Program - a Randomized Controlled Trial
This research study aims to investigate whether art and integrative medicine, within a unique setting like a university museum, can offer a new approach to help women suffering from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing widespread pain and other symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbances. The question this study seeks to answer is: Is an 8-week rehabilitation program, based on mindfulness and body awareness techniques, conducted at the University Museum of the G. d'Annunzio University, effective in reducing pain and improving the quality of life (physical and mental well-being) and coping abilities in female fibromyalgia patients? Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive this program in the museum or to a control group.
• Female patients
• Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Syndrome according to 2016 criteria
• Muscle pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score greater than 5 in the last month
• Age between 18 and 60 years
• Absence of other chronic, widespread, or localized painful conditions
• Absence of any other condition that might affect pain perception (e.g., diabetes)
• Absence of neurological or psychiatric conditions that might affect study participation
• Absence of current or past oncological diseases in the last 5 years
• Absence of corticosteroid therapy in the last 30 days
• Absence of NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and analgesic therapy in the last 4 days
• Absence of pregnancy and breastfeeding for the entire duration of observation
• Signed informed consent