title: A pilot study of cognitive behavioral stress management effects on stress, quality of life, and symptoms in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present pilot study was designed to test the effects of a 12-week group-based cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on stress, quality of life, and symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We hypothesized that participants randomized to CBSM would report improvements in perceived stress, mood, quality of life, and CFS symptomatology from pre- to postintervention compared to those receiving a psychoeducational (PE) seminar control.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 69 persons with a bona fide diagnosis of CFS and randomized 44 to CBSM and 25 to PE. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), and a Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-based CFS symptom checklist pre- and postintervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant Group×Time interaction for PSS, POMS-total mood disturbance (TMD), and QOLI scores, such that participants in CBSM evidenced greater improvements than those in PE. Participants in CBSM also reported decreases in severity of CFS symptoms vs. those in PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that CBSM is beneficial for managing distress, improving quality of life, and alleviating CFS symptom severity.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Penedo
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cruess
authors.forename: Mary-Catherine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Segotas
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helder
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klimas
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome