Relieving Chronic Pain: Psychosomatic Mechanisms and Psychological Interventions in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Headache

This research project stems from the intention to observe possible differences between people with FM and CM as clinical conditions representative of diagnostic clusters of DN of a chronic nature, with the ultimate goal of helping to improve treatments for pain management (Cohen, 2022). The overall goals of the project, in line with the literature review showing a dearth of evidence on mechanisms underlying the onset and maintenance of FM and CM and associated subpopulation (FibroMig), is to identify patterns of psychological and neurofunctional functioning associated with these DN syndromes. In light of the elucidation of such processes that can distinguish these clinical populations, the second general purpose will be to evaluate the efficacy of brief psychodynamic treatments in this area, i.e., to test the efficacy of brief psychodynamic treatment on improvement of pain severity, symptoms of chronic pain pathology, mental pain, psychopathological symptoms (anxiety, depression, etc.), effects on alexithymic functioning and quality of life, in three distinct conditions, FM, CM and comorbidities of FM and CM (FibroMig). Specifically, the project consists of 2 separate studies that aim to: * To observe possible differences in psychosocial variables among three groups of patients: isolated form (without comorbidities) of FM, CM and FM and CM comorbidities (FibroMig), compared with a group of healthy subjects (HC) (study 1) * To evaluate possible differences in the organization of baseline brain functioning (resting-state) between the 3 clinical groups and the healthy control sample (study 1) * To evaluate the effectiveness of dynamic interpersonal psychotherapy (DIT) on the three patient groups (FM, CM and FibroMig) by comparing them with the application of Expressive Writing Therapy (TSE) and a control group (Treatment as usual - TAU) on improvement with respect to pain severity (VAS), symptom severity (FIQR and symptomatology for CM), mental pain (MPQ), psychopathological symptoms related to anxiety and depression (GAD7, HSRD and PHQ6), level of central sensitization (CSI), level of alexithymia (TAS-20) and Quality of Life (SF-12) (Study 2).