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New paper from the Netherlands: the treatment of CFS

Countrygirl

Senior Member
Messages
5,431
Location
UK
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25732090


If I haven’t become lost in the double negatives, I believe the take-home message of this stunning piece of research is: the more damage a therapist can inflict on a patient’s marriage the more likely the patient will recover. It is a novel approach.:rolleyes:


The role of the partner and relationship satisfaction on treatment outcome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Verspaandonk J1, Coenders M2, Bleijenberg G1, Lobbestael J3, Knoop H1.
Author information

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) leads to a significant decrease in CFS-related symptoms and disability. The primary objective of this study was to explore whether partners' solicitous responses and patients' and partners' perceived relationship satisfaction had an effect on treatment outcome.

METHOD:
The treatment outcome of a cohort of 204 consecutively referred patients treated with CBT was analysed. At baseline, CFS patients completed the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire. The Checklist Individual Strength subscale Fatigue and the Sickness Impact Profile total scores completed by CFS patients post-treatment were used as measures of clinically significant improvement. Partners completed the Family Response Questionnaire, the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Causal Attribution List. Logistic regression analyses were performed with clinically significant improvement in fatigue and disability as dependent variables and scores on questionnaires at baseline as predictors.

RESULTS:
Solicitous responses of the partner were associated with less clinically significant improvement in fatigue and disability. Partners more often reported solicitous responses when they perceived CFS as a severe condition. Patients' relationship dissatisfaction was negatively associated with clinically significant improvement in fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS:
Partners' solicitous responses and illness perceptions at the start of the therapy can negatively affect the outcome of CBT for CFS. We emphasize the importance of addressing this in therapy.

KEYWORDS:
social support
 

JBB

Senior Member
Messages
188
Perhaps, if we cross reference some of this information with Lipkin / Mady Hornigs study we will find some correlation...due to all our "mis-perceptions" at the start of marriage our cytokines are raised. As we come to terms with the disappointment of marriage our cytokines then drop. Unfortunately I must be in a different subset of CFS as I am not married. How disappointing. ;)
 

Countrygirl

Senior Member
Messages
5,431
Location
UK
Perhaps, if we cross reference some of this information with Lipkin / Mady Hornigs study we will find some correlation...due to all our "mis-perceptions" at the start of marriage our cytokines are raised. As we come to terms with the disappointment of marriage our cytokines then drop. Unfortunately I must be in a different subset of CFS as I am not married. How disappointing. ;)

Yes, I wonder how they would treat those of us who are single? Who could they blame? Oh, what a silly question! The answer is obvious of course: us, the patients. :bang-head:
 

jimells

Senior Member
Messages
2,009
Location
northern Maine
If I understand this correctly, the study asserts that emotional abuse 'cures' CFS?

The 'Keywords' section is missing one: Bogus

Maybe the research paper should include a Black Box Warning: "Therapists who believe this study may be dangerous to your health"