Fibromyalgia (FM) patients have a significantly worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Their care should ideally centre on interdisciplinary nonpharmacological treatments. However, the long-term impact of such multicomponent treatments is unknown. Individual-based methods are frequently infeasible due to lengthy waiting lists for people seeking medical treatment. This pragmatic study sought to assess the long-term HRQoL benefits of a comprehensive 8-week group-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme that focused on patients’ coping capacity and self-care. This study drew the participation of 94 individuals with clinically diagnosed FM. Patients completed questionnaires to check for comorbidities prior to starting the programme, which is based on group-based cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise training. The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire was used to measure health-related quality of life at the beginning, 8 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. HRQoL score changes were examined using linear mixed regression modelling. Baseline data indicated that FM patients have significantly worse physical and mental HRQoL, as well as high levels of despair, anxiety, and exhaustion. Only two patients left the treatment early, and 89 percent completed the one-year evaluation. HRQoL has considerably improved in all domains by the end of the training. For all subscales, this impact was sustained after 6 months and 1 year. Changes at one year were larger in younger individuals and those who had depressive symptoms prior to starting therapy.The group-based treatment for FM patients was a success, with significant improvements in HRQoL in both the short and long term.
