Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is the most commonly encountered disorder among the extraarticular rheumatic diseases, and is characterized by long-lasting generalized pain of the fibromuscular tissue and various unidentified symptoms. However, diagnosis and treatment of FMS have not been discussed seriously in Japan, because disease-specific laboratory test findings are difficult to collect on its pathological state. Since the onset and clinical course of Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) involves many psychosocial factors, its diagnosis and treatment crucially require the understanding of FMS from a psychosomatic perspective. In the past study, we reported that the experience of physical trauma or excessive stress underlay in the background of chronic pain in FMS. It is considered that chronic pain, numerous indefinite complaints and autonomic nervous symptoms are developed from physical and/or mental exhaustion, when anxiety, fear, obsession, depression, sorrow, anger or other psychosocial stresses, as well as physical or mental fatigue are combined with the above background. As for medication, NSAIDs were effective, especially in its early period of FMS treatment. However, in the chronic stage of FMS, tricyclic antidepressants, SSRI, SNRI and other antidepressants, and anticonvulsive agents such as clonazepam are sometimes effective, which may improve the serotonin-and noradrenalinmediated descending analgesic system, contraction of muscular and vascular systems, and/or bloodstream disorders. As a matter of fact, the largest number of physicians selected SSRI, SNRI as first-line drugs, indicating the standpoint of psychosomatic specialists to take into account the significance of psychotherapy. We tried to investigate the efficacy of Milnacipran, especially early effect for chronic pain, and discussed the application and indication of Milnacipran for FMS. Psychosomatic specialists often incorporates certain psychotherapy into treatment. Several psychotherapies are applied for treatment of FMS such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), autogenic training, brief psychotherapy and general counseling. CBT is one of the most commonly used therapeutic methods in psychosomatic medicine, which seeks to develop the healthy conditions by the recovery of healthy way of thinking and behavior.
