What Researchers Did
Researchers randomly assigned 48 fibromyalgia patients, all with a history of childhood sexual abuse, to either 60 HBOT sessions at 2 ATA for 90 minutes or standard drug therapy (pregabalin and duloxetine) to compare which worked better.
What They Found
HBOT produced significantly greater improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms than the medications, with a large effect size (Cohen's d = -1.27, p < 0.001). HBOT patients also showed better emotional wellbeing and daily function. Brain scans confirmed increased activity in the prefrontal and temporal regions, suggesting HBOT physically changed how the brain processed pain.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 1.5 million Canadians and is particularly hard to treat when linked to trauma. This trial offers hope that HBOT may be a more effective option than current medications for people with trauma-related fibromyalgia.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study was not blinded (patients knew which treatment they received), which could have influenced self-reported outcomes.