Is a Full Recovery Possible after Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Vol. 76, No. 3, 2007

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Is a Full Recovery Possible after Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Hans Knoop^a, Gijs Bleijenberg^a, Marieke F.M. Gielissen^a, Jos W.M. van der Meer^b, Peter D. White^c

^aExpert Centre Chronic Fatigue and
^bDepartment of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
^cDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Barts and the London Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Psychother Psychosom 2007;76:171-176 (DOI: 10.1159/000099844)

Key Words

Chronic fatigue syndrome, recovery
Cognitive behavioural therapy, outcome

Abstract

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) leads to a decrease in symptoms and disabilities. There is controversy about the nature of the change following treatment; some suggest that patients improve by learning to adapt to a chronic condition, others think that recovery is possible. The objective of this study was to find out whether recovery from CFS is possible after CBT. Methods: The outcome of a cohort of 96 patients treated for CFS with CBT was studied. The definition of recovery was based on the absence of the criteria for CFS set up by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), but also took into account the perception of the patients' fatigue and their own health. Data from healthy population norms were used in calculating conservative thresholds for recovery. Results: After treatment, 69% of the patients no longer met the CDC criteria for CFS. The percentage of recovered patients depended on the criteria used for recovery. Using the most comprehensive definition of recovery, 23% of the patients fully recovered. Fewer patients with a co-morbid medical condition recovered. Conclusion: Significant improvement following CBT is probable and a full recovery is possible. Sharing this information with patients can raise the expectations of the treatment, which may enhance outcomes without raising false hopes.

Author Contacts

H. Knoop
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
POB 9011
NL-6525 EC Nijmegen (The Netherlands)
Tel. +31 243 610 030, Fax +31 243 610 041, E-Mail j.knoop@nkcv.umcn.nl

Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 25

Medline Abstract (ID 17426416)

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