scholarly journals Assessing functioning in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: psychometric properties and factor structure of the School and Social Adjustment Scale and the Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF36

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 546-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.E. Loades ◽  
S. Vitoratou ◽  
K.A. Rimes ◽  
T. Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Factor Solution ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Functioning Subscale ◽  
Physical Functioning Subscale ◽  
Social Adjustment Scale

AbstractBackground:Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has a major impact on functioning. However, no validated measures of functioning for this population exist.Aims:We aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the 5-item School and Social Adjustment Scale (SSAS) and the 10-item Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF-36 in adolescents with CFS.Method:Measures were completed by adolescents with CFS (n = 121).Results:For the Physical Functioning Subscale, a 2-factor solution provided a close fit to the data. Internal consistency was satisfactory. For the SSAS, a 1-factor solution provided an adequate fit to the data. The internal consistency was satisfactory. Inter-item and item-total correlations did not indicate any problematic items and functioning scores were moderately correlated with other measures of disability, providing evidence of construct validity.Conclusion:Both measures were found to be reliable and valid and provide brief measures for assessing these important outcomes. The Physical Functioning Subscale can be used as two subscales in adolescents with CFS.

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.

scholarly journals Home-based family focused rehabilitation for adolescents with severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Burgess ◽  
Kate Lievesley ◽  
Sheila Ali ◽  
Trudie Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Return To School ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour

Aims: The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate a home based, family focused rehabilitative approach for severely affected housebound adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The main aims were to facilitate a return to school, improve physical functioning, reduce fatigue and assess any adverse effects of the intervention. Methods: Six housebound adolescents aged 11–18, diagnosed with CFS by a paediatrician, were assessed and treated at home by an experienced cognitive behaviour therapist. Outcomes were assessed 12 months after discharge from treatment. Results: At 12 months follow-up all patients had returned to either school or college, and physical functioning had improved in most of the patients. Fatigue had reduced in some. No adverse effects of the intervention were reported. Conclusion: Severely affected adolescents with CFS showed improved physical functioning and social adjustment after a home-based rehabilitative approach. Although several patients showed improvements in physical functioning, they did not all show substantial improvements in fatigue. At this crucial stage of development, it is important to offer young people and their parents hope by stating that improvement is possible.

scholarly journals Guided Self-Help for Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Prior to Starting Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: a Cohort Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 448-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Ali ◽  
Kimberley Goldsmith ◽  
Mary Burgess ◽  
Trudie Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Pre Treatment

Background: Previous research suggests that minimal interventions such as self-help guidance can improve outcomes in patients with fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Aims: The aim of the current study was to investigate whether self-help guidance could improve physical functioning, social adjustment and fatigue in a group of patients with CFS who were awaiting CBT at a clinic in secondary care. Method: Patients completed questionnaires at their initial assessment (baseline), immediately before beginning CBT (pre-treatment), and after their last session of CBT (end of treatment). The primary outcome was physical functioning, and the secondary outcomes were social adjustment and fatigue. Multi-level linear models were used to assess change over time after adjustment for gender and age. Results: Multi-level models revealed that from baseline to pre-treatment, patients showed statistically significant improvements in physical functioning, but there were no statistically significant improvements in fatigue or social adjustment. However, all the primary and secondary outcomes showed statistically significant changes after CBT. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that self-help guidance may be beneficial for patients with CFS who are awaiting CBT treatment or those who are unable to access specialist treatment in their local area.

Assessing chronic fatigue syndrome: Self-reported physical functioning and correlations with physical testing

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 598-603
Author(s):  
Jan b Eyskens ◽  
Jela Illegems ◽  
Luc De Nil ◽  
Jo Nijs ◽  
Jarl K. Kampen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Physical Testing

scholarly journals Cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: A case-control study nested within a cohort

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 564-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elizabeth Loades ◽  
Katharine Rimes ◽  
Kate Lievesley ◽  
Sheila Ali ◽  
Trudie Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Perfect Match ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Control Study

Background: What adolescents think about symptoms and what they do in response could contribute to fatigue maintenance. We compared the cognitive and behavioural responses of adolescents and their parents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS; N = 121) and asthma ( N = 27) and explored the predictive value of these variables on fatigue and functioning in CFS. Method: Consecutively referred adolescents with CFS were recruited. Questionnaires, completed by adolescents and parents, assessed fatigue, functioning, mood and cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms. Age-matched adolescents with asthma completed the same questionnaires. Adolescents with CFS completed questionnaires again approximately 3 months later. Results: Adolescents with CFS scored higher on all unhelpful cognitive and behavioural subscales than adolescents with asthma. Parents’ cognitions about their child’s symptoms were associated with adolescent’s own cognitions. Unhelpful cognitive and behavioural responses, particularly, damage beliefs, predicted subsequent fatigue in CFS, and all-or-nothing behaviour, catastrophising and damage beliefs predicted subsequent physical functioning. Conclusion: Unhelpful cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms appear to be particularly prominent in adolescents with CFS. There is some consistency but not a perfect match between cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms reported by adolescents and their parents. These responses could be contributing to fatigue maintenance and disability.

scholarly journals Psychometric properties of the Cognitive and Behavioural Responses Questionnaire (CBRQ) in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Loades ◽  
S. Vitoratou ◽  
K. A. Rimes ◽  
S. Ali ◽  
T. Chalder
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Good Internal Consistency ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Coping

AbstractBackground:To better understand the maintenance of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a valid and reliable measure of cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms is required. Such a measure could also assess beliefs and coping behaviours in the context of fatigue in other somatic conditions.Aims:We aimed to establish the psychometric properties of both the Cognitive and Behavioural Responses Questionnaire (CBRQ) and its shortened version (CBRQ-S) in adolescents with CFS.Method:The full questionnaire was completed by a clinical cohort of adolescents (n = 121) presenting to specialist CFS units in the UK.Results:Both the CBRQ and CBRQ-S had good internal consistency. The CBRQ scores were strongly associated with depression, anxiety, school and social functioning, but weakly associated with fatigue and physical functioning, providing evidence of validity.Conclusion:Both the 40-item and the 18-item versions of the CBRQ were found to be reliable and valid in adolescents with CFS. To minimize unnecessary burden, the 18-item version is favoured. Using this assessment tool in future studies, including intervention studies, may help to better target interventions during clinical practice and improve outcomes.

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