The concept of self-efficacy as important predictor of long-term therapeutic success in patients with fibromyalgia

The aim of the study was to investigate the mediating role of self-efficacy in the long-term treatment outcome of patients with fibromyalgia. It was assumed that the realization of new coping strategies during the treatment is associated with a significant improvement in self-efficacy. Additionally, it was questioned whether the strengthening of self-efficacy is a precondition of long-term improvement in the main outcome criteria of subjective pain intensity and depression. For this purpose, 43 patients with fibromyalgia were assessed by questionnaire before and after attending an established and properly evaluated multimodal outpatient group-therapy, as well as 6 months after treatment. Results of the performed correlation and regression analyses provide evidence for the hypotheses of the mediating role of self-efficacy in the long-term treatment outcome of patients with fibromyalgia.