Journal of neuroscience research
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Fibromyalgia (FM), a complex chronic pain disorder affecting a heterogeneous patient population, is an area of active basic and clinical research. Although diagnostic criteria for FM have been available for 2 decades, there remains no definitive diagnostic and no consensus regarding its etiology. ⋯ We focus our discussion on two areas where strong evidence exists for abnormalities in sensory signaling: the reduction of descending control, including suppression of descending inhibitory pathways and/or enhancement of descending facilitatory pathways, and changes in key neurotransmitters associated with central sensitization. Finally, we discuss currently available pharmacological treatments indicated for the management of pain in FM patients, based on their proposed mechanism of action and efficacy.