Table 2.
Description of the included studies.
| Reference | Country | Design | Type of study | Comparison group | Subjects (dropout) | Outcomes | Overall quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Åkerblom et al., 2015 [25] | Sweden | Noncontrolled study | Outcome predictors | N/A | 409 (145) | Pain, psychological factors, pain interference | Medium |
| Amris et al., 2014 [26] | Netherlands | RCT | Comparison with control | WL | 191 (21) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, movement | High |
| Anderson and Winkler, 2006 [27] | US | Controlled trial | Comparison with control | TAU | 98 (5) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, tender points | Low |
| Angst et al., 2006 [28] | Switzerland | Noncontrolled study | Comparison with control | TAU | 225 (100) | QOL, pain, pain interference, psychological factors | Low |
| Angst et al., 2009 [29] | Controlled trial | Pre-post evaluation | TAU | 331 (121) | QOL, pain, psychological factors | Low | |
| Bailey et al., 1999 [30] | Canada | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 149 (43) | Pain, pain interference, psychological factors, FIQ, physical fitness | Low |
| Bourgault et al., 2015 [31] | Canada | RCT | Comparison with control | WL | 58 (15) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, pain interference, FIQ, perception of improvement | Medium |
| Carbonell-Baeza et al., 2011 [32] | Spain | Controlled trial | Comparison with control | TAU + education | 75 (10) | Tender points count, pain threshold, physical fitness, BMI | Medium |
| Carbonell-Baeza et al., 2011 [33] | Controlled trial | Comparison with control | TAU + education | 75 (10) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ | Medium | |
| Carbonell-Baeza et al., 2012 [34] | Controlled trial | Comparison with additional treatment | Biodanza | 38 (7) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, physical fitness, tender points | Medium | |
| Casanueva-Fernández et al., 2012 [35] | Spain | RCT | Comparison with control | TAU + education | 34 (6) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, fatigue, sleep, tender points count, pain threshold, physical fitness | Medium |
| Castel et al., 2013 [36] | Spain | RCT | Comparison with control | TAU | 155 (28) | Pain, psychological factors, FIQ, sleep | High |
| Cedraschi et al., 2004 [37] | Switzerland | RCT | Comparison with control | WL | 164 (35) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, tender points count, satisfaction | High |
| De Rooij et al., 2013 [38] | Netherlands | Noncontrolled study | Outcome predictors | N/A | 138 (18) | Pain, psychological factors, pain interference, perception of improvement | Low |
| Gustafsson et al., 2002 [39] | Sweden | Controlled trial | Comparison with control | TAU | 43 (2) | Movement, pain drawings, pain, QOL, pain interference | Low |
| Hammond and Freeman, 2006 [40] | UK | RCT | Comparison with control | Relaxation training | 183 (80) | FIQ, psychological factors, physical activity, healthcare use, perception of improvement | Medium |
| Hamnes et al., 2012 [41] | Norway | RCT | Comparison with control | WL | 147 (29) | Psychological factors, FIQ, care-management skills | Medium |
| Hooten et al., 2007 [42] | US | Noncontrolled study | Comparison between male and female | N/A | 66 (7) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, pain interference, drug usage | Low |
| Hooten et al., 2007 [43] | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 159 (17) | QOL, pain, pain interference, activity, psychological factors | Low | |
| Kas et al., 2015 [44] | US | Controlled trial | Comparison with additional treatment | Multidisciplinary + increased exercise | 79 (0) | FIQ | Medium |
| Keel et al., 1998 [45] | Switzerland | RCT | Comparison with control | Relaxation training | 32 (5) | Pain, psychological factors, sleep, changes in drug treatment, satisfaction | Low |
| Kroese et al., 2009 [46] | Netherlands | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 105 (5) | FIQ, QOL, satisfaction | Low |
| van Eijk-Hustings et al., 2013 [47] | RCT | Comparison with control | Aerobic exercise and TAU | 203 (69) | QOL, activity, FIQ, healthcare use, sick leave | Medium | |
| Lemstra and Olszynski, 2005 [48] | Canada | RCT | Comparison with control | Family physician | 79 (8) | Pain, pain interference, psychological factors | High |
| Lera et al., 2009 [49] | Spain | RCT | Comparison with additional treatment | Multidisciplinary + CBT | 83 (27) | QOL, FIQ, psychological factors, tender points count | High |
| Marcus et al., 2014 [50] | US | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 274 (67) | Pain, ADL, movement, FIQ | Low |
| Martìn et al., 2012 [51] | Spain | RCT | Comparison with control | Pharmacotherapy | 180 (70) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, pain interference, FIQ, satisfaction | Medium |
| Martìn et al., 2014 [52] | RCT | Comparison with control | Pharmacotherapy | 180 (70) | FIQ, psychological factors, satisfaction | Medium | |
| Martìn et al., 2014 [53] | RCT | Comparison with control | Pharmacotherapy | 180 (70) | FIQ | Medium | |
| Martìn et al., 2014 [54] | RCT | Comparison with control | Pharmacotherapy | 180 (70) | Pain, FIQ | Medium | |
| Martins et al., 2014 [55] | Brazil | Controlled trial | Comparison with control | TAU | 27 (0) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, sleep | Low |
| Mengshoel et al., 1995 [56] | Norway | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 16 (3) | Pain, fatigue, sleep, adjustments of daily life | Low |
| Michalsen et al., 2013 [57] | Germany | Controlled trial | Comparison with additional treatment | Other multidisciplinary treatments | 48 (6) | Pain, psychological factors, FIQ, sleep, BMI | Medium |
| Nielson and Jensen, 2004 [58] | Canada | Noncontrolled study | Outcome predictors | N/A | 253 (55) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, pain interference, activity | Medium |
| Persson et al., 2012 [59] | Sweden | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 813 (304) | Pain, psychological factors, pain interference, activity | Low |
| Ripley et al., 2003 [60] | US | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 21 (0) | Pain, psychological factors, FIQ, fatigue, sleep, comorbidities | Low |
| Romeyke et al., 2014 [61] | Austria | Controlled trial | Comparison with control | Multidisciplinary + hyperthermia | 104 (0) | Pain, chronic pain stage, severity of symptoms, pain interference | Low |
| Salgueiro et al., 2013 [62] | Spain | Noncontrolled study | Outcome predictors | N/A | 72 (0) | Pain, FIQ, QOL, psychological factors | Low |
| Saral et al., 2016 [63] | Turkey | RCT | Comparison with control | Long term versus short term versus no treatment | 66 (7) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, fatigue, sleep, tender points count, pain threshold, physical functioning | Medium |
| Stein and Miclescu, 2013 [64] | Sweden | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 59 (8) | Pain, psychological factors, QOL, sick leave duration, healthcare use, drug usage | Low |
| Suman et al., 2009 [65] | Italy | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 25 (0) | Pain, psychological factors, tender points count, pain threshold | Low |
| Turk et al., 1998 [66] | US | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 70 (3) | Pain, psychological factors, pain interference, FIQ, disability, marital satisfaction | Medium |
| Van Koulil et al., 2011 [67] | Netherlands | RCT | Comparison with control | WL | 158 (45) | Physical fitness | High |
| van Wilgen et al., 2007 [68] | Netherlands | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 65 (0) | QOL, pain, psychological factors, FIQ, physical fitness | Low |
| Wennemer et al., 2006 [69] | US | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 23 (3) | QOL, FIQ, movement | Low |
| Worrel et al., 2001 [70] | US | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 100 (26) | Pain, psychological factors, FIQ, pain interference, sleep, fatigue | Low |
| Pfeiffer et al., 2003 [71] | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 100 (22) | QOL, FIQ, psychological factors | Low | |
| Oh et al., 2010 [72] | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 984 (463) | QOL, FIQ, satisfaction | Low | |
| Vincent et al., 2013 [73] | Noncontrolled study | Pre-post evaluation | N/A | 7 (0) | QOL, FIQ, psychological factors, fatigue | Low |