scholarly journals Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Cognitive, Behavioural and Emotional Processing Vulnerability Factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha K. Brooks ◽  
Trudie Chalder ◽  
Katharine A. Rimes
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Psychological Characteristics ◽  
Personality Factors ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Illness Onset ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Current Characteristics

Background: Cognitive-behavioural models of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) suggest that personality factors such as perfectionism and high moral standards may contribute to the development of CFS. Aims: To investigate cognitive, behavioural and emotional processing risk factors for CFS. Method: CFS patients (n = 67) at a UK specialist clinic completed questionnaires about psychological characteristics both currently and retrospectively (6 months pre-CFS onset). Responses were compared with those of healthy individuals (n = 73) who rated their current characteristics. Forty-four relatives retrospectively rated the pre-morbid psychological characteristics of the CFS participants. Results: CFS patients showed similar levels of current perfectionism to controls, though higher pre-morbid perfectionism. CFS patients showed greater self-sacrificial beliefs and more unhelpful beliefs about experiencing and expressing negative emotions, both currently but more markedly prior to onset. In the 6 months pre-illness onset, CFS patients showed more disruption to their primary goal and greater general stress than controls. Ratings of pre-morbid psychological characteristics by relatives were consistent with patients’ self-reports. The extent of overinvestment in one goal was significantly associated with fatigue. Conclusions: Perfectionism, self-sacrificial tendencies, unhelpful beliefs about emotions, and perceived stress may be present to a greater extent pre-morbidly in CFS patients compared with healthy individuals.

scholarly journals The ‘cognitive behavioural model’ of chronic fatigue syndrome: Critique of a flawed model

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 205510291983890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Geraghty ◽  
Leonard Jason ◽  
Madison Sunnquist ◽  
David Tuller ◽  
Charlotte Blease ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Irrational Beliefs ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Illness Onset ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Behavioural Model ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Change Beliefs

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is a debilitating illness that greatly impacts the lives of sufferers. A cognitive behavioural model attempts to explain illness onset and continuance with a hypothesis that the illness is perpetuated by patients’ irrational beliefs and avoidance behaviours. This theory underpins the promotion of cognitive behavioural therapy, a treatment that aims to change beliefs and behaviours. This article reports on a detailed review of the cognitive behavioural model. Our review finds that the model lacks high-quality evidential support, conflicts with accounts given by most patients and fails to account for accumulating biological evidence of pathological and physiological abnormalities found in patients. There is little scientific credibility in the claim that psycho-behavioural therapies are a primary treatment for this illness.

scholarly journals Investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of FITNET-NHS (Fatigue In Teenagers on the interNET in the NHS) compared to activity management to treat paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME): amendment to the published protocol

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Anderson ◽  
Daisy Gaunt ◽  
Chris Metcalfe ◽  
Manmita Rai ◽  
William Hollingworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Trial Protocol ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Therapy Program ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Activity Management

Abstract The FITNET-NHS Trial is a UK, national, trial investigating whether an online cognitive behavioural therapy program (FITNET-NHS) for treating chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in adolescents is clinically effective and cost-effective in the NHS. At the time of writing (September 2019), the trial was recruiting participants. This article presents an update to the planned sample size and data collection duration previously published within the trial protocol. Trial registration ISRCTN, ID: 18020851. Registered 8 April 2016.

scholarly journals Competences Required for the Delivery of High and Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions for Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 760-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine A. Rimes ◽  
Janet Wingrove ◽  
Rona Moss-Morris ◽  
Trudie Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Interventions ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Interventions

Background: Cognitive behavioural interventions are effective in the treatment of chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome (sometimes known as ME or CFS/ME) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Such interventions are increasingly being provided not only in specialist settings but in primary care settings such as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. There are no existing competences for the delivery of “low-intensity” or “high-intensity” cognitive behavioural interventions for these conditions. Aims: To develop “high-intensity” and “low-intensity” competences for cognitive behavioural interventions for chronic fatigue, CFS/ME and IBS. Method: The initial draft drew on a variety of sources including treatment manuals and other information from randomized controlled trials. Therapists with experience in providing cognitive behavioural interventions for CF, CFS/ME and IBS in research and clinical settings were consulted on the initial draft competences and their suggestions for minor amendments were incorporated into the final versions. Results: Feedback from experienced therapists was positive. Therapists providing low intensity interventions reported that the competences were also helpful in highlighting training needs. Conclusions: These sets of competences should facilitate the training and supervision of therapists providing cognitive behavioural interventions for chronic fatigue, CFS/ME and IBS. The competences are available online (see table of contents for this issue: http://journals.cambridge.org/jid_BCP) or on request from the first author.

The concept of ‘illness without disease’ impedes understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome: a response to Sharpe and Greco

2020 ◽  
pp. medhum-2019-011807
Author(s):  
Steven Lubet ◽  
David Tuller
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Medical Humanities ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Behavioural Interventions ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Graded Exercise Therapy ◽  
Objective Evidence ◽  
Graded Exercise

In a recent article in Medical Humanities, Sharpe and Greco characterise myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as an ‘illness without disease’, citing the absence of identified diagnostic markers. They attribute patients’ rejection of psychological and behavioural interventions, such as cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET), to a ‘paradox’ resulting from a supposed failure to acknowledge that ‘there is no good objective evidence of bodily disease’. In response, we explain that understandings about the causes of and treatments for medical complaints have shifted across centuries, and that conditions once thought to be ‘psychosomatic’ have later been determined to have physiological causes. We also note that Sharpe and Greco do not disclose that leading scientists and physicians believe that ME/CFS is a biomedical disease, and that numerous experts, not just patients, have rejected the research underlying the CBT/GET treatment approach. In conclusion, we remind investigators that medical classifications are always subject to revision based on subsequent research, and we therefore call for more humility before declaring categorically that patients are experiencing ‘illness without disease’.

scholarly journals Cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: outcomes from a specialist clinic in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (10) ◽  
pp. 394-402
Author(s):  
James Adamson ◽  
Sheila Ali ◽  
Alastair Santhouse ◽  
Simon Wessely ◽  
Trudie Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
The Uk

Objectives Cognitive behavioural therapy is commonly used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome and has been shown to be effective for reducing fatigue and improving physical functioning. Most of the evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome is from randomised control trials, but there are only a few studies in naturalistic treatment settings. Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in a naturalistic setting and examine what factors, if any, predicted outcome. Design Using linear mixed effects analysis, we analysed patients' self-reported symptomology over the course of treatment and at three-month follow-up. Furthermore, we explored what baseline factors were associated with improvement at follow-up. Setting Data were available for 995 patients receiving cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome at an outpatient clinic in the UK. Participants Participants were referred consecutively to a specialist unit for chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome. Main outcome measures Patients were assessed throughout their treatment using self-report measures including the Chalder Fatigue Scale, 36-item Short Form Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Global Improvement and Satisfaction. Results Patients’ fatigue, physical functioning and social adjustment scores significantly improved over the duration of treatment with medium to large effect sizes (|d| = 0.45–0.91). Furthermore, 85% of patients self-reported that they felt an improvement in their fatigue at follow-up and 90% were satisfied with their treatment. None of the regression models convincingly predicted improvement in outcomes with the best model being (R2 = 0.137). Conclusions Patients’ fatigue, physical functioning and social adjustment all significantly improved following cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in a naturalistic outpatient setting. These findings support the growing evidence from previous randomised control trials and suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy could be an effective treatment in routine treatment settings.

White matter changes following cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

NeuroImage ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. S55
Author(s):  
J. Scholz ◽  
F.P. De Lange ◽  
J.W. van der Meer ◽  
G. Bleijenberg ◽  
P. Hagoort ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
White Matter Changes ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

In-Patient Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudie Chalder ◽  
Sue Butler ◽  
Simon Wessely
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour ◽  
Therapy Treatment ◽  
Made In

A cognitive behavioural model for the development of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is outlined. Six patients with CFS are described who were treated as in-patients using cognitive behaviour therapy. Treatment consisted of graded consistent exposure to activity and cognitive restructuring. Substantial improvements were made in all but one patient up to three months after discharge.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document