Chronic fatigue syndrome Alternative therapy offers relief

Behavioral therapy and exercise therapy work against chronic fatigue
The chronic fatigue syndrome (also myalgic encephalomyelitis, ME) remains a mysterious symptoms, whose causes are largely unclear. The affected people are usually severely limited by the poor performance or exhaustion in their everyday lives. Additional physical problems such as muscle and limb pain, headache or sore throat cause them additional difficulties. However, scientists from Oxford University, King's College London and Queen Mary University of London have found that the combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise-based therapy allows for relatively effective relief of discomfort.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise therapy offer significant advantages in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome compared to conventional medical treatment and so-called adaptive stimulation therapy, the University of Oxford reports from the current study results. With their follow-up study, the scientists have confirmed the positive effects of behavioral and exercise therapy in ME, the university added. The researchers studied the long-term effects of the different treatment approaches on participants in a 2011 study. Subjects were contacted again by researchers after two and a half years to review the results of the first study. The advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise therapy have been confirmed, the researchers write around Professor Michael Sharpe of the University of Oxford in the journal "The Lancet Psychiatry".

The chronic fatigue syndrome can be treated relatively effectively with behavioral and exercise therapy. (Image: Kurhan / fotolia.com)

Long-term success with alternative therapeutic approaches
The scientists were able to gain three quarters of the original study participants for their follow-up examination. The evaluation of the four different treatments showed that the "improvements in fatigue and physical functioning identified in the first study for cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise therapy have been sustained," according to the Oxford University Communication. These treatments can improve long-term health of people with chronic fatigue syndrome, Professor Sharpe concludes. Patients would also have needed fewer therapies for treatment with behavioral and exercise therapy than with conventional treatment or adaptive pacing therapy.

Deterioration of the symptoms is possible
With regard to possible worsening of the course of the disease, the researchers found no differences between the treatment methods studied. About ten percent of the subjects were affected by this in all experimental groups. This is "a reassurance for those who fear that some of these treatments could make things worse"; reports Professor Peter Weiss of the Queen Mary University of London. However, the noted deteriorations "are also a reminder that the treatments can not help all those affected." Here, the search for other, helpful treatment methods must be continued. (Fp)