Research shows immediate family members of patients with fibromyalgia have an eightfold higher risk of developing the condition and have more tender points than control groups.

University of Colorado at Denver

There are no specific causes of the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms but the following have been found as triggers:

•	Genetics

•	Stressors

•	Infections


Possible Causes of Fibromyalgia

Häuser, W., Ablin, J., Fitzcharles, M.-A., Littlejohn, G., Luciano, J. V., Usui, C., & Walitt, B. (2015). Fibromyalgia. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2015.22

Fibromyalgia (Häuser et al., 2015)

Rahman, A., Underwood, M., & Carnes, D. (2014). Fibromyalgia. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 348. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26514070

Fibromyalgia (Rahman, et al., 2014)

•Infections such as the Epstein–Barr virus or parvovirus, brucellosis and Lyme disease have been found to be potential causes fibromyalgia in some patients.
•Physical trauma, especially one that affects the spine has been found to be a trigger.

•Psychological stressors, such as childhood trauma and abuse, daily stressors, and PTSD have been linked to onset of fibromyalgia.

Stressors and Environmental Factors

Genetics as Possible Cause of Fibromyalgia

Psychological stressors that may contribute to the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms:

•	Childhood trauma and abuse

•	Daily life hassles

•	Exposure to war

•	Catastrophic events

•	Persecution


Stressors as Possible Cause of Fibromyalgia

The following infections have been accompanied by the development of fibromyalgia symptoms:

•	Epstein–Barr virus

•	Brucellosis

•	Lyme disease 

•	Any prolonged febrile disorder


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