EXPLORING THE FRONTIERS OF NEUROSCIENCE
Fibromyalgia and Sleep Disorders Scientific Conference
The National Fibromyalgia Research Association (NFRA) presented the Fibromyalgia and Sleep Disorders scientific conference on October 2-4, 2008 in Portland, Oregon at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.
“Clinical and research studies highlight the importance of unrefreshing sleep, fatigue and widespread pain as core problems in patients with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. This meeting, organized by the National Fibromyalgia Research Association (NFRA), will serve as the first major scientific and public meeting to highlight our current understanding of such problems and advances in their treatment,” said Harvey Moldofsky, MD.
Fibromyalgia and Sleep Disorders was targeted towards primary care physicians, rheumatologists, nurses, and other clinicians treating chronic pain and sleep disorders. The presentations will be challenging for non-scientific individuals.
“The association of sleep dysfunction with fibromyalgia by Dr. Harvey Moldofsky in the mid-1970s was largely responsible for the subsequent systemic study of fibromyalgia. Over the last quarter century this research has led to the contemporary paradigm of fibromyalgia as being a disorder associated with maladaptive functioning of the central nervous system. We’ve learned much more about sleep, pain, stress and fatigue pathways. This conference provides a tremendous opportunity for practitioners to review what has been discovered and learn how to apply the information to improve the quality of life for their fibromyalgia patients,” said Robert M. Bennett, MD.
An international faculty including Bennett as well as other noted fibromyalgia and sleep researchers and clinicians such as I. Jon Russell, MD, PhD, George Chrousos, MD, Jerome Siegel, PhD, and Manuel Martinez-Lavin, MD presented an expansive 2-day curriculum. The course offerings will include the interaction of sleep, pain, and mood; the pathophysiology of sleep as related to fibromyalgia; polysomnography; maladaptive brain plasticity in fibromyalgia, and sleep and the autonomic nervous system.
The Proceedings DVD includes most of the presentations from the Sleep program, but does not allow for CME credit as was offered at the conference. Presentations included on the DVD include:
| Fibromyalgia - Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis and Structured Evaluation |
Andrew J. Holman, MD |
| The Interaction of Sleep, Pain and Mood: A Primer for Primary Care Physicians |
Maurice M. Ohayon, MD |
| The Basic Physiology and Neurochemistry of Sleep |
Jerome M. Siegel, PhD |
| Sleep and Aging: Growing Old Should Not Mean Sleeping Poorly |
Michael V. Vitiello, PhD |
| Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Sleep, Theory and Therapy |
I. Jon Russell, MD, PhD |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Similarities and Differences with Fibromyalgia and Treatment Approaches |
Dedra S. Buchwald, MD |
| Pain in Fibromyalgia |
Robert M. Bennett, MD |
| Pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia |
Patrick B. Wood, MD |
| Maladaptive Brain Plasticity in Fibromyalgia |
Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke, MD |
| Functional Neuroimaging in Fibromyalgia |
Richard E. Harris, PhD |
| Sleep Deprivation and Pain Modulation |
Michael T. Smith, PhD |
| Hormones, Cytokines and Aging: New Insights for Fibromyalgia |
George P. Chrousos, MD |
| Fibromyalgia: Sleep and Dysautonomia |
Manuel Martinez-Lavin, MD |
| Sleep Disorders in Fibromyalgia |
Gerald B. Rich, MD |
