title: Guided self-instructions for people with chronic fatigue syndrome: randomised controlled trial.
abstract: A minimal intervention, based on cognitive-behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome and consisting of self-instructions combined with email contact, was tested in a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN27293439). A total of 171 patients participated in the trial: 85 were allocated to the intervention condition and 86 to the waiting-list condition. All patients met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. An intention-to-treat analysis showed a significant decrease in fatigue and disability after self-instruction. The level of disability was negatively correlated with treatment outcome. Guided self-instructions are an effective treatment for patients with relatively less severe chronic fatigue syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. j.knoop@nkcv.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knoop
authors.forename: Jos W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Gijs
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bleijenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult