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Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings

Published in:

01-12-2007

Non-pharmacologic Interventions for CFS: A Randomized Trial

Authors: Leonard A. Jason, Susan Torres-Harding, Fred Friedberg, Katrina Corradi, Mary Gloria Njoku, Julie Donalek, Nadia Reynolds, Molly Brown, Bing Bing Weitner, Alfred Rademaker, Morris Papernik

Published in: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings | Issue 4/2007

Abstract

Non-pharmacological behavioral treatments for CFS have been suggested as promising. These trials have tested protocols composed of behavioral, cognitive and cognitive–behavioral interventions but there have been few efforts to differentially evaluate their outcomes. The primary purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse delivered non-pharmacologic interventions. In the present study, 114 participants diagnosed with CFS were randomly assigned to four 6-month interventions. The interventions were: cognitive–behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, anaerobic activity, and a relaxation control group. The study found that these interventions led to increases in several areas of functioning, with more consistent changes occurring among those participants in the cognitive condition. For the 25 variables in this study, significant change occurred for 28%, 20%, 16%, and 12% of the variables for the cognitive, cognitive behavior therapy, anaerobic activity, and relaxation conditions, respectively. However, the majority of participants continued to be diagnosed with CFS following the treatment trial. Implications of these findings are discussed.

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Title: Non-pharmacologic Interventions for CFS: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Leonard A. Jason
Susan Torres-Harding
Fred Friedberg
Katrina Corradi
Mary Gloria Njoku
Julie Donalek
Nadia Reynolds
Molly Brown
Bing Bing Weitner
Alfred Rademaker
Morris Papernik
Publication date: 01-12-2007
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings / Issue 4/2007
Print ISSN: 1068-9583
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3572
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-007-9090-7

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