Here is a comment Tate Mitchell posted when posting it on Co-Cure:
This is pretty interesting- The authors state that in three previous
trials of CBT, actometer data was taken. However one of the common
criticisms of CBT studies is that no objective outcome measures, such
as actometer data, have been reported in the literature. This raises
the obvious question of why was this actometer data not reported in
the original results of these studies.
trials of CBT, actometer data was taken. However one of the common
criticisms of CBT studies is that no objective outcome measures, such
as actometer data, have been reported in the literature. This raises
the obvious question of why was this actometer data not reported in
the original results of these studies.
'How does cognitive behaviour therapy reduce fatigue in patients with
chronic fatigue syndrome? The role of physical activity.'
Wiborg JF, Knoop H, Stulemeijer M, Prins JB, Bleijenberg G.
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology,
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Psychol Med. 2010 Jan 5:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20047707
BACKGROUND: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is known to reduce
fatigue severity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). How this change in
symptomatology is accomplished is not yet understood. The purpose of
the present study was to determine whether the effect of CBT on
fatigue is mediated by an increase in physical activity.
METHOD: Three
randomized controlled trials were reanalysed, previously conducted to
evaluate the efficacy of CBT for CFS. In all samples, actigraphy was
used to assess the level of physical activity prior and subsequent to
treatment or a control group period. The mediation hypothesis was
analysed according to guidelines of Baron & Kenny [Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology (1986)51, 1173-1182]. A
non-parametric bootstrap approach was used to test statistical
significance of the mediation effect.
RESULTS: Although CBT effectively reduced fatigue, it did not change the level of physical
activity. Furthermore, changes in physical activity were not related
to changes in fatigue. Across the samples, the mean mediation effect
of physical activity averaged about 1% of the total treatment effect.
This effect did not yield significance in any of the samples.
CONCLUSIONS: The effect of CBT on fatigue in CFS is not mediated by a
persistent increase in physical activity.
chronic fatigue syndrome? The role of physical activity.'
Wiborg JF, Knoop H, Stulemeijer M, Prins JB, Bleijenberg G.
Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue and Department of Medical Psychology,
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Psychol Med. 2010 Jan 5:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20047707
BACKGROUND: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is known to reduce
fatigue severity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). How this change in
symptomatology is accomplished is not yet understood. The purpose of
the present study was to determine whether the effect of CBT on
fatigue is mediated by an increase in physical activity.
METHOD: Three
randomized controlled trials were reanalysed, previously conducted to
evaluate the efficacy of CBT for CFS. In all samples, actigraphy was
used to assess the level of physical activity prior and subsequent to
treatment or a control group period. The mediation hypothesis was
analysed according to guidelines of Baron & Kenny [Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology (1986)51, 1173-1182]. A
non-parametric bootstrap approach was used to test statistical
significance of the mediation effect.
RESULTS: Although CBT effectively reduced fatigue, it did not change the level of physical
activity. Furthermore, changes in physical activity were not related
to changes in fatigue. Across the samples, the mean mediation effect
of physical activity averaged about 1% of the total treatment effect.
This effect did not yield significance in any of the samples.
CONCLUSIONS: The effect of CBT on fatigue in CFS is not mediated by a
persistent increase in physical activity.