Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26264735›Full record

Trial reportBMC neurology2015

Testing the efficacy of web-based cognitive behavioural therapy for adult patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CBIT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Anthonie Janse, Margreet Worm-Smeitink, José Bussel-Lagarde, Gijs Bleijenberg, Stephanie Nikolaus, Hans Knoop

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC neurology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Anthonie JanseExpert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Anthonie.Janse@radboudumc.nl.
Margreet Worm-SmeitinkExpert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Margreet.Worm-Smeitink@radboudumc.nl.
José Bussel-LagardeExpert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Jose.Bussel-Lagerde@radboudumc.nl.
Gijs BleijenbergExpert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Gijs.Bleijenberg@radboudumc.nl.
Stephanie NikolausExpert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Stephanie.Nikolaus@radboudumc.nl.
Hans KnoopExpert Centre for Chronic Fatigue, Radboud university medical center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Hans.Knoop@radboudumc.nl.
Radboud University Medical Center · NLRadboud University Nijmegen · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for fatigue and disabilities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, treatment capacity is limited. Providing web-based CBT and tailoring the amount of contact with the therapist to the individual needs of the patient may increase the efficiency of the intervention. Web-based CBT for adolescents with CFS has proven to be effective in reducing fatigue and increasing school attendance. In the proposed study the efficacy of a web-based CBT intervention for adult patients with CFS will be explored. Two different formats of web-based CBT will be tested. In the first format named protocol driven feedback, patients report on their progress and receive feedback from a therapist according to a preset schedule. In the second format named support on demand, feedback and support of the therapist is only given when patients ask for it. The primary objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of a web-based CBT intervention on fatigue severity. METHOD/

designA randomized clinical trial will be conducted. Two-hundred-forty adults who have been diagnosed with CFS according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consensus criteria will be recruited and randomized to one of three conditions: web-based CBT with protocol driven feedback, web-based CBT with support on demand, or wait list. Feedback will be delivered by therapists specialized in CBT for CFS. Each of the web-based CBT interventions will be compared to a wait list condition with respect to its effect on the primary outcome measure; fatigue severity. Secondary outcome measures are level of disability, physical functioning, psychological distress, and the proportion of patients with clinical significant improvement in fatigue severity. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and six months post randomization. The web-based CBT formats will be compared with respect to the time therapists need to deliver the intervention. DISCUSSION: As far as we know this is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) that evaluates the efficacy of a web-based CBT intervention for adult patients with CFS.

trial registrationNTR4013.

Indexed as

InternetResearch DesignAdolescentAdultAgedCognitive Behavioral TherapyFatigueFatigue Syndrome, ChronicHumansMiddle AgedPersons with DisabilitiesTelemedicineTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesWaiting ListsYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID26264735
PMCPMC4533791
OpenAlexW1748083568

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.