Fibromyalgia
chronic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by pain, stiffness, and tenderness
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a long-term condition characterised by widespread chronic pain. Other symptoms can include fatigue, trouble thinking or remembering, waking up tired (unrefreshed), pain or cramps in the lower abdomen, depression, or headache. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, with several pathophysiologies proposed.
Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2 to 4% of the population. Women are affected at a higher rate than men. Rates appear similar across areas of the world and among varied cultures. Fibromyalgia was first recognised in the 1950s, and defined in 1990, with updated criteria in 2011, 2016, and 2019.
The treatment of fibromyalgia is symptomatic and multidisciplinary. Aerobic and strengthening exercise is recommended. Duloxetine, milnacipran, and pregabalin can give short-term pain relief to some people with FM. Symptoms of fibromyalgia persist long-term in most patients.
The public source identifies “Fibromyalgia” as chronic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by pain, stiffness, and tenderness. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Fibromyalgia, chronic and disorder.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Fibromyalgia”, the useful work is to connect “chronic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by pain, stiffness, and tenderness” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 8, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q540571. The Library of Congress control number is sh88007812. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1990, 2011, 2016 and 2019.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Fibromyalgia”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Fibromyalgia primary sources, Fibromyalgia archive and Fibromyalgia research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Fibromyalgia”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Fibromyalgia” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.