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Cited by 87Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ResearchLong-Term Effects of COVID-19Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Predictors of response to treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Open access
Bentall, Richard P., Powell, Pauline, Nye, Fred J., Edwards, Richard H. T.·2002·British Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1192/bjp.181.3.248
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Controlled trials have shown that psychological interventions designed to encourage graded exercise can facilitate recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome. AIMS: To identify predictors of response to psychological treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. METHOD: Of 114 patients assigned to equally effective treatment conditions in a randomised, controlled trial, 95 completed follow-up assessments. Relationships between variables measured prior to randomisation and changes in physical functioning and subjective handicap at 1 year were evaluated by multiple regression. RESULTS: Poor outcome was predicted by membership of a self-help group, being in receipt of sickness benefit at the start of treatment, and dysphoria as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Severity of symptoms and duration of illness were not predictors of response. CONCLUSIONS: Poor outcome in the psychological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome is predicted by variables that indicate resistance to accepting the therapeutic rationale, poor motivation to treatment adherence or secondary gains from illness.

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  • There is evidence that pain, depression, and anxiety complicate the course for patients with CFS.

    “There is, however, evidence that pain, depression, and anxiety complicate the course for patients with CFS (Bentall et al., 2002; Cairns and Hotopf, 2005; Knoop et al., 2007; Kempke et al., 2010; Flo and Chalder, 2014).”

    From The relationship between improvement in insomnia severity and long-term outcomes in the treatment of chronic fatigue (2018) · cites this paper as Bentall et al., 2002

    The Statistical analysis section combines depression and anxiety scores into a dysphoria measure, and the Abstract reports that dysphoria predicted poorer response to psychological treatment for CFS. The paper does not establish separate effects for depression and anxiety, and the passages found do not address pain as a predictor of patients’ course. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Previous research has found anxiety and depression as measured by the HADS to be related to poor treatment outcome, and more functional impairment at follow-up.

    “Previous research has also found anxiety and depression as measured by the HADS to be related to poor treatment outcome (Bentall et al., 2002), and more functional impairment at follow-up (Sharpe et al., 1992).”

    From The relationship between improvement in insomnia severity and long-term outcomes in the treatment of chronic fatigue (2018) · cites this paper as Bentall et al., 2002

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. RICHARD H. T. EDWARDS, FRCP (retired), formerly University of Liverpool, UK Correspondence: Professor Richard Bentall, Department of Psychology,University of Manchester, Correspondence: Professor Richard Bentall, Department of Psychology,University of Manchester, Coupland 1Building,Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL,UK
  2. Coupland 1Building,Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL,UK (First received 1 August 2001, final revision 10 April 2002, accepted 17 April 2002) (First received 1 August 2001, final revision 10 April 2002, accepted 17 April 2002) Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. 15 Sep 2026 at 08:49:49, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use.

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Authors
Bentall, R. P., Powell, P., Nye, F. J., & Edwards, R. H. T.
Affiliations
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust (GB)
  • University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author
Bentall, Richard P.
ORCID
Bentall, Richard P.
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published
2002-09
Volume
181
Issue
3
Pages
248-252
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
DOI
10.1192/bjp.181.3.248
OpenAlex
W2064856214
Cited by
87
References
29
Citations by year
2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 5602 d)
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Keywords
chronic fatigue syndrome, predictors of treatment response, psychological intervention, graded exercise, self-help groups, sickness benefits, dysphoria, medication adherence, secondary gain, physical function
MeSH terms
Absenteeism, Antidepressive Agents, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Loneliness, Patient Compliance, Psychotherapy, Self-Help Groups, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic, Treatment Outcome

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