| Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain for ≥3 months |
| Absence of other systemic condition accounting for pain |
| Excess tenderness in soft tissues |
| Characteristic symptoms: |
| • "I hurt all over" |
| • "It feels like I always have the flu" |
| • Fatigue, sleep and mood disturbances |
| • IBS, irritable bladder, multiple other somatic complaints |
| Exclusion of structural or systemic disease |
| • Not a "fishing" expedition |
| • Avoid "screening" rheumatology tests |
| • Most efficient with early subspecialty referral |
