Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38228869›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of behavioral medicine2024

Efficacy and Acceptance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

Frederic Maas Genannt Bermpohl, Ann-Cathrin Kucharczyk-Bodenburg, Alexandra Martin

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of behavioral medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

19 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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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

3 authors.

Frederic Maas Genannt BermpohlDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany. fmaas@uni-wuppertal.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2370-4946
Ann-Cathrin Kucharczyk-BodenburgDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8612-0518
Alexandra MartinDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4235-8591

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe systematic aggregation of research on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) needs an update. Although meta-analyses evaluating interventions typically focus on symptom reduction, they should also consider indicators of treatment acceptability, e.g., drop-out rates.

methodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating CBT in adults with CFS compared to inactive and non-specific control groups were included. First, efficacy was examined, considering fatigue, depression, anxiety, and perceived health. Secondly, drop-out rates through different trial stages were analyzed: Non-completion of all mandatory sessions, drop-out (primary study definition), treatment refusal (non-starters), and average of sessions completed.

resultWe included 15 RCTs with 2015 participants. CBT was more effective than controls in fatigue (g = -0.52, 95%CI -0.69 to -0.35), perceived health, depression, and anxiety at post-treatment. At long-term follow-up the effects were maintained for fatigue and anxiety. Rates of non-completion (22%, 95%CI 3-71), drop-out (15%, 95%CI 9-25), and treatment refusal (7%, 95%CI 3-15) were relatively low, with a high average proportion of sessions completed. Total time of therapy moderated the effect on fatigue, while the number of sessions moderated the effect on perceived health. Fatigue severity influenced adherence.

conclusionThe results indicate that CBT for CFS is effective in reducing fatigue, fatigue related impairment, and severity of depression and anxiety. Conclusions on efficacy at follow-ups are still limited. However, adherence is high in CBT. The results may help to inform clinical practice. Future research should focus on examining the maintenance of effects, while also emphasizing the importance of treatment acceptance.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyFatigue Syndrome, ChronicAdultAnxietyDepressionHumansPatient Acceptance of Health CareRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeAdherenceChronic fatigue syndromeDrop-outMyalgic encephalomyelitisTreatment evaluation

Identifiers

PMID38228869
PMCPMC11588766

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.