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Cognitive behaviour therapy helps chronic fatigue
Wed Aug 6 2008Depending on the severity of the condition, CFS can potentially be long-lasting and cause great distress and disability. It remains something of a medical mystery, with the consequence that patients may be treated in a number of very different ways. In cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), psychological techniques are used to counteract the potentially recovery-impairing effects of negative thoughts with more realistic alternatives. In the case of treatment for CFS, cognitive behaviour techniques are combined with the prescription of a gradual increase in physical activity.
In the systematic review by Cochrane researchers, data from 15 studies involving over 1,000 CFS patients was looked at. The effects of CBT were compared with those of regular care and other psychological therapies. The review suggested that CBT was more effective than the other techniques at reducing the severity of symptoms, as long as patients continued with treatment.
The researchers said that further research was needed to compare the effectiveness of CBT with other treatments involving relaxation therapy and exercise, and proposed that CBT may be effective if combined with other forms of treatment.
Lead researcher Jonathan Price, of the UK's University of Oxford, said, 'CFS is a challenging illness for patients, and there is ongoing controversy about its causes. There remain unanswered questions, but the available evidence is clear – CBT can help many people with CFS'.
Source: The Cochrane Library
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