Is Cognitive Behavior Therapy The New Cure For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

A complicated disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is where the person has severe fatigue all the time, and it isn’t related to any other medical problem. No matter how much rest the person gets, the fatigue is still present, unlike those without the syndrome. There is no definitive cause for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but theories have included stress and viral infections.

Symptoms

As well as the chronic fatigue, there are 8 other main symptoms that are recognized as part of the syndrome. These include:

• Lack of concentration or loss of memory
• Sore throats
• Muscle pain that can’t be explained
• Lymph node enlargement in the armpit or neck
• Pain in joints
• Headaches
• Sleep that doesn’t result in feeling refreshed
• Exhaustion that lasts longer than 24 hours following mental or physical exercise

There are 3 levels of severity that are identified in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Most cases are mild to moderate, but some people do fall into the severe category. With mild forms of the syndrome, you can generally attend to daily tasks and take care of yourself, but it may be a little more difficult. Often sufferers can attend a job, but they are likely to need time off regularly.

With moderate cases, mobility can be restricted and daily tasks are much more difficult to manage. Those who fall into the moderate category generally are unable to work, and will need regular rest during the day, yet will often sleep poorly at night.

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For a case to be considered severe, the person is unable to do the majority of daily tasks. Mobility could be so restricted that a wheelchair may be necessary, and many people on this level become housebound, unable to leave their homes. Sensitivity to light and noise may occur, and many people will spend the majority of their time in their beds.

The Cognitive Behavior Therapy And The Controversy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

CBT is often used to assist those who suffer from mental disorders, behavior disorders, and those on the Autistic Spectrum. However, the underlying basis of CBT involves changing thinking to overcome medical issues. The behavioral aspect involves changing harmful behaviors. It is important to note here that using CBT does not mean the illness is mental or psychological; it has simply been used for those problems previously and is now being implemented in treatments for other medical issues.

The purpose of CBT is not to cure the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but to help form coping strategies, improve functioning, and alleviate some of the symptoms. CBT can be adjusted depending on the illness it is being used for, and for those with Chronic Fatigue, the CBT will normally include:

• Activity/energy management
• Sleep routine establishment
• Setting goals
• Psychological assistance and support

In 2011, the results of a research trial involving CBT and Chronic Fatigue were published. The trial consisted of 641 participants with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome who fell into the mild and moderate categories. Of the participants, 4 groups were formed who received different treatment methods. Each group received the following:

• Medical treatment only
• Medical care and adaptive pacing therapy (APT)
• Medical care and CBT
• Medical care and graded exercise therapy (GET)

The trial lasted for 1 year, and the results at the end showed that the groups who received the CBT and the GET had 41 participants out of 100 improve. The group that received medical care only, had an improvement of 25 out of 100, and the final group showed an improvement in 31 out of 100. This indicated that the best treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome were CBT and GET.

The Controversy

The controversy surrounding the use of CBT in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome isn’t because of the CBT. Instead, it is related to the difficulty in defining what Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is, as there are no specific tests, and each person may have Differing symptoms aside from the common fatigue. Some researchers believe Chronic Fatigue may be a physiological disease that is brought about by toxins in the environment, infection or stress. Therefore, if you remove these issues, there is likely to be an improvement even without CBT. Incredibly, there are 5 definitions of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome used throughout the world, and because of this, any trials, research and results may not be entirely accurate.

Is It Worth Trying CBT

Although the results of various studies haven’t shown an absolute cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, there have been indications of improvement of symptoms in those who follow CBT. Ultimately, the decision as to whether to try CBT or not is one that can be affected by a few different factors. These include:

• Lack of therapists with the correct training in your area
• Insurance policies
• Financial issues

Many insurance companies won’t pay for CBT unless it is specifically for a diagnosed psychological illness, like anxiety or depression.

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Conclusion

There have been some positive results from using CBT to combat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but there have also been studies that have been less than positive. This could be due to a number of factors, such as inexperienced therapists, level of illness, or the individual themselves. There needs to be more research done into this field, and once there has been a specific definition as to what Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is, there will be less room for interpretation of the results. In the meantime, it is worth discussing the possibility of trialing CBT for you, to see if it may be of some help with your symptoms.