Universities and special medical institutions, like NIAMS, are covering a wide spectrum when it comes to research. They are doing detailed laboratory work in studying new medications for the drugs and the good and bad effects that they have on the patient. Special treatments are also being researched so that people with this disorder don't have to suffer as much from the pain. A particular part of their studies investigates the use of special interventions to encourage certain behaviors that help in reducing the level of pain; through this they are also trying to eliminate behaviors that actually worsen or help in perpetuating the pain.



A significant part of the studies done by researchers is actually done to better understand the pain. Some scientist suggest that the problem with patients is that they actually have difficulty in proper processing the amount of pain that they feel. In other words it seams that people with this illness have a hypersensitivity to stimuli that normally are not that painful. By understanding pain they also hope to understand why patients suffering from fibromyalgia have an increased pain sensitivity.

Actual research has started to reveal interesting facts about the human brain. It seams that people with this disorders have reduced blood flow to the parts of the brain that usually deal with the perception of the pain. Scientists now have the help of modern technology to better conduct their tests. With special machines, they will use an unique method called positron emission therapy tomography to see the difference of blood flow between women that suffer from the diseases and women that are not suffering from the disease. Same kind of tests are being done in men so that all spectrums of the illness are best understood. After a certain amount of time results of these two tests will be compared and thoroughly analyzed.

To best understand the action of many diseases. Scientists are actually using different test with lab mice. Symptoms in lab mice and rats are very similar to those felt by humans; the same thing applies to the action of the disease. First studying the long term effects on lab mice actually provides the very bases for future research done to understand and treat fibromyalgia in humans.