Chapter 154 - Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes

Abstract

Sleep-related complaints and sleep disturbances are principal features of fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Sleep quality affects patients' pain and fatigue symptoms as well as quality of life. The pathophysiologic role of sleep disturbances in FM and CFS is currently poorly understood despite the recognition of poor sleep quality as a frequent symptom. Several polysomnographic findings have been described in patients with FM and CFS. The relevance of sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) findings to daytime symptoms of FM and chronic fatigue syndrome are not well understood. Conventional methods for sleep-stage scoring or quantifying EEG may not be sensitive enough to detect relevant sleep changes in patients with FM or CFS. Comorbid sleep disorders may affect sleep quality of patients with FM and CFS, and treating these sleep disorders may augment primary therapies for these syndromes. Targeted therapy toward sleep disorders or sleep complaints includes pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches. This chapter illustrates the complexities of identifying, measuring, and treating sleep disturbances in syndromes defined by chronic pain and fatigue.