Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review
Analysis of the 2008 Cochrane review of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome shows that seven patients with mild chronic fatigue syndrome need to be treated for one to report a small, short-lived subjective improvement of fatigue. This is not matched by an objective improvement...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Health Psychology Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102919840614 |
| _version_ | 1828491270727663616 |
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| author | Mark Vink Alexandra Vink-Niese |
| author_facet | Mark Vink Alexandra Vink-Niese |
| author_sort | Mark Vink |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Analysis of the 2008 Cochrane review of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome shows that seven patients with mild chronic fatigue syndrome need to be treated for one to report a small, short-lived subjective improvement of fatigue. This is not matched by an objective improvement of physical fitness or employment and illness benefit status. Most studies in the Cochrane review failed to report on safety or adverse reactions. Patient evidence suggests adverse outcomes in 20 per cent of cases. If a trial of a drug or surgical procedure uncovered a similar high rate, it would be unlikely to be accepted as safe. It is time to downgrade cognitive behavioural therapy to an adjunct support-level therapy, rather than a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:59:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e458549cf976415b85ae6792d2f75508 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-1029 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T10:59:21Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Psychology Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-e458549cf976415b85ae6792d2f755082022-12-22T01:09:56ZengSAGE PublishingHealth Psychology Open2055-10292019-04-01610.1177/2055102919840614Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane reviewMark Vink0Alexandra Vink-Niese1Family and Insurance Physician, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsIndependent Researcher, GermanyAnalysis of the 2008 Cochrane review of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome shows that seven patients with mild chronic fatigue syndrome need to be treated for one to report a small, short-lived subjective improvement of fatigue. This is not matched by an objective improvement of physical fitness or employment and illness benefit status. Most studies in the Cochrane review failed to report on safety or adverse reactions. Patient evidence suggests adverse outcomes in 20 per cent of cases. If a trial of a drug or surgical procedure uncovered a similar high rate, it would be unlikely to be accepted as safe. It is time to downgrade cognitive behavioural therapy to an adjunct support-level therapy, rather than a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102919840614 |
| spellingShingle | Mark Vink Alexandra Vink-Niese Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review Health Psychology Open |
| title | Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review |
| title_full | Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review |
| title_short | Cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review |
| title_sort | cognitive behavioural therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective re analysis of a cochrane review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102919840614 |
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