Presented by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, produced in collaboration with Applied Clinical Education, and endorsed by the National Fibromyalgia Association.

Supported by educational grants from Forest Laboratories, Inc., and Pfizer Inc.


Have you or your patients encountered barriers in managing the common disorder of fibromyalgia? Unfortunately, the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of this syndrome can result in significant direct and indirect costs to patients, as well as profoundly negative effects on their quality of life.

Participate in this free, interactive, sequential, case-based CME activity to learn how you can make a difference for your patients.

Release date 12/6/10; expiration date 12/6/11

Learning Objectives
After completing this activity, the participant will demonstrate the ability to:
  1. Explain the evidence for fibromyalgia as a legitimate medical disorder.
  2. Describe the pathophysiologic mechanisms of fibromyalgia.
  3. Identify optimal assessment practices for diagnosing fibromyalgia and its comorbidities.
  4. Formulate a treatment plan for fibromyalgia and its comorbidities that is tailored to individual patients and informed by current and emerging therapies.


Course Format
This educational activity is an online course that includes brief case presentations and interactive questions with commentary.
Estimated Time to Completion
30 minutes.

Faculty
Course Director
Michael R. Clark, MD, MPH
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Baltimore, Maryland

Katherine Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bill H. McCarberg, MD
University of California,
San Diego School of Medicine
San Diego, California


Target Audience
Primary care physicians, pain specialists, neurologists, and other health care professionals who care for individuals with fibromyalgia. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Statement of Need
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain for which an alternative cause cannot be identified. Its prevalence is between 2% and 7%, with women affected at a ratio of 9 to 1 relative to men. FM has a profound impact on quality of life, imposes a substantial economic burden, and is associated with comorbidities and increased mortality. FM is underdiagnosed and undertreated, and many clinicians doubt or deny that it is a valid clinical entity, diminishing their ability to diagnose and treat patients with the condition. Recent pathophysiologic research has supported the validity of FM as a disorder, but the data have not been disseminated sufficiently to affect clinical practice widely. In addition, assessment of FM is challenging, with comorbidities common and no gold standard for diagnosis. Available treatment guidelines are inconsistent and outdated; currently approved medications are relatively new, and other treatments are emerging. The goal of this educational activity is to provide physicians and other health care practitioners with up-to-date, clinically useful information on the legitimacy of FM as a medical disorder and on the pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment of FM and its comorbidities.

Accreditation Statement
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Accreditation
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

Policy on Faculty and Provider Disclosure
It is the policy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine that the faculty and provider disclose real or apparent conflicts of interest relating to the topics of this educational activity, and also disclose discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentation. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education has established policies in place that will identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to this educational activity. Detailed disclosure will be made in the course handout materials.

Course Viewing Requirements
PC: Internet Explorer (v7 or greater), or Firefox (Latest Version)
MAC: Safari (Latest Version)
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