It was 25 years ago when Muhammad B. Yunus, MD, published the first controlled study of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). It was this study that led the medical community to recognize FMS as a disease. John B. Winfield, MD, calls Dr. Yunus, “…the father of our modern view of fibromyalgia.”

Once again, Dr. Yunus has published, Fibromyalgia and Overlapping Disorders: The Unifying Concept of Central Sensitivity Syndromes, which promises to be another fibromyalgia landmark study. In this study, Dr. Yunus made an exhaustive study of 255 publications dealing with FMS and related diseases. From this massive amount scientific literature, and with his own insights, developed a concept that he calls the Central Sensitivity Syndrome (CSS).

Dr. Yunus describes 13 conditions related to CSS. Although in some patients stress and depression may contribute to the symptoms of pain and suffering the real cause is neurochemical pathology. He concludes that CSS is a new and important perspective that embraces the biopsychosocial model of disease for FMS.

The biopsychosocial model comprises of diverse contributions ranging from genes and adverse childhood experiences, life stress and distress, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, self-efficacy for pain control, catastrophizing, coping style, and social support. It is expected that neuroscience research will now incorporate a biopsychosocial perspective.