title: Participant attributions for global change ratings in unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify participants' attributions for their global impression of change ratings in a behavioral intervention for unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome. At 3-month follow-up, participants (N = 67) were asked "Why do you think you are (improved, unchanged, worse)?" Improved patients pointed to specific behavioral changes, unchanged patients referred to a lack of change in lifestyle, and worsened patients invoked stress and/or specific life events. Identifying patient perceptions of behaviors associated with patient global impression of change-rated improvement and non-improvement may assist in developing more effective management strategies in clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, USA fred.friedberg@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Friedberg
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, USA.
authors.forename: Janna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coronel
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, USA.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seva
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Adamowicz
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D000073278:Self-Management / Q000379:methods*
keywords: attributions; chronic fatigue syndrome; global impression of change rating; mixed methods; worsening