Fibromyalgia: Pathophysiology, Neuropsychological Alterations, Clinical Variables, and Therapeutic Interventions for Clinical Pain Management

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue addresses the Fibromyalgia and the pathophysiology, neuropsychological alterations, clinical variables, and therapeutic interventions for clinical pain management.

Fibromyalgia (FM) can be understood as a complex clinical and rheumatological condition characterized by widespread and diffuse musculoskeletal pain, accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction. In this context, cognitive dysfunction gains particular relevance, as patients refer to it as one of the most debilitating symptoms, positioning it as a central symptom in the clinical presentation of FM. Despite the considerable prevalence of FM and its dramatic impact on patients' quality of life, the etio-pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this condition are currently unknown.

However, the central sensitization hypothesis emerges as a physiopathological process of notable relevance in understanding FM. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying neuropsychological alterations in this population is still in a much more exploratory phase than the former, and certainly warrants more exhaustive study. Current scientific evidence suggests a relationship between deficits in cognitive domains such as memory, attention, executive functions, and emotional processing, not only with pain intensity but also with psychiatric comorbidities like anxiety, depression, and other clinical variables such as sleep quality and body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, the frequent coexistence of different psychiatric comorbidities, sleep disorders, and psychosocial factors modulates the pain experience and therapeutic response. Current therapeutic approaches promote a multidisciplinary focus that integrates pharmacological interventions with non-pharmacological strategies, with the aim of optimizing symptomatic management and improving patients' quality of life.

This Special Issue's primary objective is to deepen the understanding of FM, covering its pathophysiology, neuropsychological alterations, psychiatric comorbidities and clinical variables, and therapeutic interventions for clinical pain management. We invite the submission of original research manuscripts, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing the connection between cognitive deficits and their neurophysiological correlates. Priority will be given to studies employing advanced neuroimaging techniques to investigate variations in cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity. Additionally, we particularly welcome works that integrate the study of psychosocial variables and psychiatric comorbidities in the context of FM. Contributions presenting and evaluating the efficacy of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions specifically designed to optimize cognitive function and mitigate pain perception will be received with special interest. We seek contributions that advance knowledge on the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in FM and propose more effective and personalized therapeutic strategies aimed at substantially improving the quality of life for individuals affected by FM.

Dr. Cristina Muñoz Ladrón de Guevara
Dr. Sandra Melero Santos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.