title: The effect of homework compliance on treatment outcomes for participants with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationship between level of treatment engagement through completion of homework on treatment outcomes within nonpharmacological interventions for participants with ME/CFS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 82 participants with ME/CFS was randomly assigned to one of four nonpharmacological interventions. Each intervention involved 13 sessions over the course of 6 months. Change scores were computed for self-report measures taken at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Homework compliance was calculated as the percentage of completed assignments across the total number of sessions and grouped into three categories: minimum (0-25%), moderate (25.1-75%), or maximum (75.1-100%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings revealed that after controlling for treatment condition, those who completed a maximum amount of homework had greater improvement on a number of self-report outcome measures involving role, social, and mental health functioning. There were no differential improvements in physical and fatigue functioning based on level of homework compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study suggest homework compliance can have a positive influence on some aspects of physical, social, and mental health functioning in participants with ME/CFS. It should be emphasized that these interventions do not cure this illness. The lack of significant changes in physical functioning and fatigue levels suggests a need for more multidisciplinary treatment approaches that can elicit improvement in these areas.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Research, DePaul University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. leahlavaty@gmail.com
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hlavaty
authors.forename: Molly M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome