Comparative study of cognitive behavior versus relaxation therapies in rehabilitation of chronic fatigue syndrome patients

الملخص EN

Objective : to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) versus relaxation therapy (RT) in rehabilitation of patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Methodology : Forty patients with CFS were randomly divided into 2 groups, each including 20 patients.

Group I was treated by 12 sessions of CBT; while group II was managed by 12 sessions of RT.

Patients were evaluated at study entry (baseline), at end of treatment and 6 months after treatment (Follow up).

Parameters of evaluation were fatigue severity, physical functioning, work status (hours worked per week) and subjective assessment.

Results: The study was completed by 35 patients (18 in group I and 17 in group II).

At end of treatment and 6 months after treatment, patients undergoing CBT showed significantly higher improvements than patients receiving RT on measures of fatigue severity, physical functioning and work status (p < 0.05).

On comparing with basal values, group I patients scored highly significant improvements (p < 0.001) in fatigue severity, physical functioning and work status at end of treatment and these improvements were sustained over 6 months after treatment, while group II patients had significant improvements (p < 0.05) in these outcome measures at end of treatment, however these improvements were not maintained up to 6 months.

Regarding subjective evaluation, CBT patients had better results with significant difference compared with RT patients at end of treatment and 6 months after treatment.

In group I, percentages of patients who were satisfied or improved were 72.2 % and 61.1 % at end of treatment and at 6 months after treatment respectively.

In group II, these percentages were 47.0 % and 17.7 % respectively.

Conclusion : cognitive behavior therapy is more effective than relaxation therapy in rehabilitation of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Improvements are sustained up to 6 months in patients undergoing cognitive behavior therapy.