Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, including details on myalgic encephalomyelitis (me), diagnosis, gradual and sudden onset.

Long-term outcomes of an integrative rehabilitation program on quality of life: A follow-up study.

Taylor RR, Thanawala SG, Shiraishi Y, Schoeny ME

Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term effects of an integrative rehabilitation program on the overall quality of life of individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS: This study utilized a within-subjects, repeated measures cohort design. Twenty-three subjects diagnosed with CFS attended eight sessions of an illness-management group followed by 7 months of goal-oriented, individualized counseling that occurred once weekly for 30 min per session. Quality of life was assessed at five time points (baseline, following the group phase, following the one-on-one phase, and 4 and 12 months following program completion). RESULTS: A within-subjects repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant increases in overall quality of life for up to 1 year following program completion [F(4, 21)=23.5, P<.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Definitive conclusions about program efficacy are limited by design issues. However, findings suggest that the program may have led to improvement in quality of life for up to 1 year following program completion.

Published 4 December 2006 in J Psychosom Res, 61(6): 835-9.
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