title: A randomised controlled trial of a psycho-educational intervention to aid recovery in infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glandular fever is associated with an approximate fivefold increase in fatigue at 6 months. Reduced levels of fitness and illness beliefs may be important predictors of fatigue following glandular fever. We therefore developed a brief psycho-educational intervention aimed at improving recovery from infectious mononucleosis, and piloted a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a randomised-controlled trial in primary health care in Southeast London and Kent. Sixty-nine patients aged between 16 and 45 years who were diagnosed, serologically and clinically, with acute infectious mononucleosis between December 1999 and December 2000 were randomised. The control group received a standardised fact-sheet about infectious mononucleosis, which gave no advice on rehabilitation. Patients who were randomised to the intervention received an individual treatment session, two follow-up telephone calls, and an information booklet. Fatigue score 6 months after the onset of infectious mononucleosis was the main outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-nine out of 139 patients referred were recruited and randomised. Eighty-seven percent of those recruited completed the Fatigue Questionnaire at 6 months. The intervention was acceptable to all who received it. There were fewer fatigue cases in the intervention group than the control group at 6 months follow-up (odds ratio 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.09-0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A brief intervention at the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis is acceptable, and may help prevent the development of chronic fatigue. Definitive randomised controlled trials are required to test the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine, 103 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Candy
authors.forename: Trudie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chalder
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cleare
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wessely
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotopf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires