Julien Wan
The fundamental characteristic of Fibromyalgia (FM), a stress-related illness, is persistent, widespread pain. Although the pathophysiology of the disorder is uncertain, mounting evidence suggests that the main symptoms of the condition may be caused by inflammatory biomarkers and malfunctioning transmitter systems. In this study, women with FM who received Gentle Touch Treatment (GTT) or placebo were evaluated for pain ratings (primary result), quality of life, inflammatory biomarkers, and neurotransmitter systems (secondary outcomes). 64 female FM patients were divided into two groups at random GTT and Placebo. Clinical evaluations were done at the beginning and end of the intervention, with a six-month follow-up. Dopamine, indoleamine, intermediate metabolites including serotonin and 5-Hydroxy Indole Acetic Acid (5-HIAA), as well as Tetrahydrobiopterin, were all tested in the serum, which contributes to the synthesis of neurotransmitters and indicators for inflammation in FM patients' bodies, that examine the effects of the intervention, Repeated Measurements (RM) two-way ANOVA was used. In contrast to Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and pain ratings were lower in the GTT group than in the placebo group levels without affecting the FM-affected women's quality of life. BDNF changes played a mediation role plays in agony. Greater basal levels of 5-HIAA and BDNF in the blood or individuals who have a history of anxiety disorders indicated a greater decrease in pain levels over time. An ANCOVA mixed model, however, demonstrated that the intervention had a lesser overall impact on women whose baseline blood dopamine levels were greater. Women with FM who participated in the GTT group experienced less pain than those who received a placebo, without a change in their quality of life. Lower levels of BDNF may be a factor in the improvement of FM pain state. The current study promotes the use of these GTT approaches as an integrative and supplementary FM therapy in this way.