The key symptoms of FM are chronic widespread pain, non-restorative sleep and subjective disabilities. The frequency of general and extra-musculoskeletal symptoms underlines that FMS is more than just a "pain disorder".

Psychotherapeutic programs tailored to FMS subgroups should be developed and tested.

The long-term treatment should be based on principles of basic psychosomatic care and shared decision making on treatment options.

Following the exclusion of inflammatory rheumatoid, endocrinological and neurological diseases, a symptom-based clinical diagnosis of FMS can be based on of the key symptoms of chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, as well as chronic fatigue.

The significance which can be assigned to most of the studies on the various procedures for therapy is restricted due to short study duration (mean 6-12 weeks) and small sample sizes.