The effect of positive psychotherapy-based psychoeducation program on pain perception, daily life activities and mental health of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Positive Psychotherapy Program for Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome, based on Nossrat Peseschkian's Positive Psychotherapy model, on pain perception, activities of daily living, and mental health of patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. A randomized controlled experimental research design was used in the study with a pre-test (at the beginning), post-test (at the end of the ten-week intervention), and follow-up (in the third months) approach. The study was conducted between July 2023 and May 2024 with 72 outpatients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome who agreed to participate in the study (experimental group=36, control group=36). Data were collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and General Health Questionnaire–28 (GHQ–28). The analysis of the research data was performed using SPSS for mac version 26 software. Thirty-six patients in the experimental group participated in a program consisting of 10 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, based on positive psychotherapy theory for 10 weeks. Significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in terms of pain, FIQ scores, depression subscale, anxiety subscale, social functioning subscale, and somatic symptoms subscale (VAS: p=0.001, η²=0.438; FIQ: p=0.001, η²=0.517; GHQ–28 total p=0.001, η²=0.522). In line with these results, the Positive Psychotherapy Program for Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome is recommended to be used to help fibromyalgia patients improve their symptoms. The study was registered in the Clinical Trials Number protocol registration system with the number NCT06147882. Keywords: Fibromyalgia syndrome, positive psychotherapy, psychiatric nursing, pain, daily living activities.