Effectiveness of a group-based self-management program for people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a group-based self-management program for people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: Four mid-sized towns in southern Norway and two suburbs of Oslo. Subjects: A total of 137 adults with chronic fatigue syndrome. Intervention: A self-management program including eight biweekly meetings of 2.5 hours duration. The control group received usual care. Main measures: Primary outcome measure: Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form-36 physical functioning subscale. Secondary outcome measures: Fatigue severity scale, self-efficacy scale, physical and mental component summary of the Short Form-36, and the illness cognition questionnaire (acceptance subscale). Assessments were performed at baseline, and at six-month and one-year follow-ups. Results: At the six-month follow-up, a significant difference between the two groups was found concerning fatigue severity ( p = 0.039) in favor of the control group, and concerning self-efficacy in favor of the intervention group ( p = 0.039). These significant differences were not sustained at the one-year follow-up. No significant differences were found between the groups concerning physical functioning, acceptance, and health status at any of the measure points. The drop-out rate was 13.9% and the median number of sessions attended was seven (out of eight). Conclusions: The evaluated self-management program did not have any sustained effect, as compared with receiving usual care.

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Effects of Qigong Exercise on Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-Like Illness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/485341 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jessie S. M. Chan ◽

Rainbow T. H. Ho ◽

Chong-wen Wang ◽

Lai Ping Yuen ◽

Jonathan S. T. Sham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Alternative Therapy ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Control Group ◽

Complementary And Alternative Therapy ◽

Fatigue Score ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

Background. Anxiety/depressive symptoms are common in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome- (CFS-) like illness. Qigong as a modality of complementary and alternative therapy has been increasingly applied by patients with chronic illnesses, but little is known about the effect of Qigong on anxiety/depressive symptoms of the patients with CFS-like illness.Purpose. To investigate the effects of Qigong on fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in patients with CFS-illness.Methods. One hundred and thirty-seven participants who met the diagnostic criteria for CFS-like illness were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group received 10 sessions of Qigong training twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks, followed by home-based practice for 12 weeks. Fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and postintervention.Results. Total fatigue score [F1,135=13.888,P<0.001], physical fatigue score [F1,135=20.852,P<0.001] and depression score [F1,135=9.918,P=0.002] were significantly improved and mental fatigue score [F1,135=3.902,P=0.050] was marginally significantly improved in the Qigong group compared to controls. The anxiety score was not significantly improved in the Qigong group.Conclusion. Qigong may not only reduce the fatigue symptoms, but also has antidepressive effect for patients with CFS-like illness. Trial registrationHKCTR-1200.

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Qualitative study of the acceptability and feasibility of acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome

BMJ Paediatrics Open ◽

10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001139 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e001139

Author(s):

Philippa Clery ◽

Jennifer Starbuck ◽

Amanda Laffan ◽

Roxanne Morin Parslow ◽

Catherine Linney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Alternative Therapy ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Commitment Therapy ◽

Acceptance And Commitment ◽

One Year

BackgroundPaediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is disabling and relatively common. Although evidenced-based treatments are available, at least 15% of children remain symptomatic after one year of treatment. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an alternative therapy option; however, little is known about whether it is an acceptable treatment approach. Our aim was to find out if adolescents who remain symptomatic with CFS/ME after 12 months of treatment would find ACT acceptable, to inform a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of ACT.MethodsWe recruited adolescents (diagnosed with CFS/ME; not recovered after one year of treatment; aged 11–17 years), their parent/carer and healthcare professionals (HCPs) from one specialist UK paediatric CFS/ME service. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore barriers to recovery; views on current treatments; acceptability of ACT; and feasibility of an effectiveness RCT. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in data.ResultsTwelve adolescents, eleven parents and seven HCPs were interviewed. All participants thought ACT was acceptable. Participants identified reasons why ACT might be efficacious: pragmatism, acceptance and compassion are valued in chronic illness; values-focussed treatment provides motivation and direction; psychological and physical needs are addressed; normalising difficulties is a useful life-skill. Some adolescents preferred ACT to cognitive behavioural therapy as it encouraged accepting (rather than challenging) thoughts. Most adolescents would consent to an RCT of ACT but a barrier to recruitment was reluctance to randomisation. All HCPs deemed ACT feasible to deliver. Some were concerned patients might confuse ‘acceptance’ with ‘giving up’ and called for clear explanations. All participants thought the timing of ACT should be individualised.ConclusionsAll adolescents with CFS/ME, parents and HCPs thought ACT was acceptable, and most adolescents were willing to try ACT. An RCT needs to solve issues around randomisation and timing of the intervention.

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