Study seeks strategies to combat fatigue
Source: Agencies |
February 19, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The biggest ever study of chronic fatigue syndrome treatments has challenged the strategy championed by patient groups - taking it easy is not the best treatment, exercise and behavior therapy are.
For years, patient groups warned such treatments could be dangerous, instead promoting a strategy known as adaptive pacing - which advises patients to adjust to their illness by simply doing less. But the study found that approach didn't help.
The research, published yesterday in the medical journal The Lancet, found that behavior and exercise seemed to moderately reduce fatigue and improve activity levels, while pacing and medical care weren't much help.
Chronic fatigue syndrome affects up to 2 percent of people worldwide. Symptoms include persistent tiredness, insomnia and memory problems. The cause is unknown, though the syndrome can be triggered by certain viral infections, and there is no cure.
In the study, more than 600 British patients were divided into four groups, and each given a strategy for around six months. The first group received just medical care, while the remainder received medical care and one of the strategies. Patients were then monitored for up to one year to see if the strategy had any permanent effect.
Since pacing is championed by many patient groups, scientists wanted to test whether it works. Previous patient surveys have suggested behavioral and exercise therapy make people worse, though the study found all treatments tested were safe.
Knoop said behavior and exercise therapies may help patients increase their activity levels, control their symptoms better, and change the way they perceive their tiredness.
Still, the treatments only helped about 60 percent of patients, and -researchers were unsure how long the results lasted.
For years, patient groups warned such treatments could be dangerous, instead promoting a strategy known as adaptive pacing - which advises patients to adjust to their illness by simply doing less. But the study found that approach didn't help.
The research, published yesterday in the medical journal The Lancet, found that behavior and exercise seemed to moderately reduce fatigue and improve activity levels, while pacing and medical care weren't much help.
Chronic fatigue syndrome affects up to 2 percent of people worldwide. Symptoms include persistent tiredness, insomnia and memory problems. The cause is unknown, though the syndrome can be triggered by certain viral infections, and there is no cure.
In the study, more than 600 British patients were divided into four groups, and each given a strategy for around six months. The first group received just medical care, while the remainder received medical care and one of the strategies. Patients were then monitored for up to one year to see if the strategy had any permanent effect.
Since pacing is championed by many patient groups, scientists wanted to test whether it works. Previous patient surveys have suggested behavioral and exercise therapy make people worse, though the study found all treatments tested were safe.
Knoop said behavior and exercise therapies may help patients increase their activity levels, control their symptoms better, and change the way they perceive their tiredness.
Still, the treatments only helped about 60 percent of patients, and -researchers were unsure how long the results lasted.
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