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.

In search of a new balance. Can high "action-proneness" in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome be changed by a multidisciplinary group treatment?

Van Houdenhove B, Bruyninckx K, Luyten P

Chronic Fatigue Reference Centre, University Hospitals, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. boudewijn.vanhoudenhove@uz.kuleuven.ac.be

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in action-proneness (a cognitive and behavioral tendency toward direct action) after a multidisciplinary group intervention, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET). METHODS: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (n=62) completed three versions of a Dutch self-report questionnaire evaluating action-proneness retrospectively that is (1) before illness onset, (2) before treatment and (3) after treatment. Significant others (n=62) also gave their opinion about the patients' action-proneness at time points 1 and 2. RESULTS: Premorbid action-proneness levels considerably dropped after illness onset. After treatment, action-proneness levels significantly increased again, although levels remained below premorbid levels. CONCLUSION: High action-proneness retrospectively reported by CFS patients can be adaptively modified by a multidisciplinary group treatment including CBT and GET.

Published 29 May 2006 in J Psychosom Res, 60(6): 623-5.
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