Developing a Veteran-informed, exercise-based pain management intervention for Veterans living with fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that disproportionately impacts Veterans. Individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia experience lower self-esteem and positive affect, as well as greater levels of depression, anxiety, negative affect, and pain catastrophizing. This project meets an urgent need in Veterans living with fibromyalgia and chronic pain, integrating neurological, psychological, and clinical advancements such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) scans, pain assessments, and semi-structured interviews.

Military personnel diagnosed with fibromyalgia, especially those living with PTSD, utilize health care more, resulting in higher health care costs with no effective treatment options. Dr. Taylor’s study, funded by the Veterans Affairs’ Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, aims to assess associations between affect, neuroinflammation, inflammation, and pain in Veterans living with fibromyalgia and developing a Veteran-informed, exercise-based pain management intervention.

This study brings together experts in physiological and behavioral testing in chronic pain conditions to determine associations of affect, neuroinflammation, and inflammation with pain outcomes in Veterans living with FM; and develop and design a Veteran-informed exercise program.

Principal Investigator: Taylor (Buchanan) Taylor, Ph.D., M.Ed.