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How does cognitive behaviour therapy reduce fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome? The role of physical activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2010

J. F. Wiborg ,
H. Knoop ,
M. Stulemeijer ,
J. B. Prins  and
G. Bleijenberg
J. F. Wiborg*
Affiliation:
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
H. Knoop
Affiliation:
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
M. Stulemeijer
Affiliation:
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
J. B. Prins
Affiliation:
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
G. Bleijenberg
Affiliation:
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: J. F. Wiborg, Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, The Netherlands. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is known to reduce fatigue severity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). How this change in symptomatology is accomplished is not yet understood. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the effect of CBT on fatigue is mediated by an increase in physical activity.

Method

Three randomized controlled trials were reanalysed, previously conducted to evaluate the efficacy of CBT for CFS. In all samples, actigraphy was used to assess the level of physical activity prior and subsequent to treatment or a control group period. The mediation hypothesis was analysed according to guidelines of Baron & Kenny [Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (1986)51, 1173–1182]. A non-parametric bootstrap approach was used to test statistical significance of the mediation effect.

Results

Although CBT effectively reduced fatigue, it did not change the level of physical activity. Furthermore, changes in physical activity were not related to changes in fatigue. Across the samples, the mean mediation effect of physical activity averaged about 1% of the total treatment effect. This effect did not yield significance in any of the samples.

Conclusions

The effect of CBT on fatigue in CFS is not mediated by a persistent increase in physical activity.

Keywords

Chronic fatigue syndromecognitive behaviour therapymechanisms of changemediation analysisphysical activity
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 8 , August 2010 , pp. 1281 - 1287
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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