There is no proven or reliable cure for CFS, and no drug has been developed specifically for this disorder. Because CFS remains poorly understood, many patients have problems finding good care. Overall, the recommended strategy for treatment includes a combination of the following:
- A healthy diet
- Antidepressant drugs in some cases, usually low-dose tricyclics
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise for certain patients
- Medication
- Sleep management techniques
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
The Procedure. CBT is usually performed over 6 - 20 sessions, each lasting about an hour. Patients are also given homework, which usually includes keeping a diary and attempting tasks that they have avoided because of previous negative attitudes.
A typical cognitive therapy program may involve the following measures:
Keep a Diary. The patient is almost always asked to keep an energy diary, which can be a key component of CFS cognitive therapy.
The diary serves as a general guide for setting limits and planning activities. The patient uses the diary to track any factors, such as a job or relationship, that may be making the fatigue worse or better. It is also used to track the times of day when energy levels are at their highest and lowest.
Adjust Schedule. The patient adjusts schedules to conform to energy peaks and valleys recorded in the diary. For instance, the patient may take a nap during low-energy times and plan important activities during high-energy times. Developing regular daily routines around probable energy spurts or drops may help establish a more predictable pattern.
Confront Negative or Discouraging Thoughts. Patients are taught to challenge and reverse negative beliefs (such as "I'm not good enough to control this disease, so I'm a total failure."), and to use coping statements ("Where is the evidence that I can control this disease?")
Be Flexible. Energy levels will most likely never be entirely predictable.
Patients must be prepared to adapt to energy variations. Instead of taking a long nap, for instance, patients may need 5- to 10-minute rest periods every hour or more, possibly involving relaxation or meditation.
Set Limits. Limits are designed to keep both mental and physical stress within a manageable framework so that patients do not get discouraged by forcing themselves into situations in which they are likely to fail. For example, tasks are broken down into incremental steps and patients focus on one step at a time.
Prioritize.
Patients learn to drop some of the less critical tasks or delegate them to others.
Manage Impaired Concentration. Patients seek out activities that are appealing, focus attention, and help increase alertness. They learn to request instructions given as concise, simple statements. External distractions, such as music or talking, are kept to a minimum.
Accept Relapses.
Over-coping and accomplishing too much too soon can often cause a relapse of symptoms. Patients should respect these relapses and back off. They should not consider them a sign of treatment failure or personal failure.
Using both self-observation and specific tasks, patients gradually shift their fixed ideas that they are helpless against the fatigue that dominates their lives. They move to the perception that fatigue is only one negative experience among many positive ones.
Success Rates. One review of CFS trials reported that, of all therapies available to CFS patients, only cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise showed conclusive benefits. CBT is effective at reducing the symptoms of fatigue compared with usual care, and it appears to be more effective than other psychological therapies.
Although CBT doesn't bring patients completely back to normal, research has found that people who use the therapy have higher mental health scores, and are able to walk faster and with less fatigue than those who did not use CBT. - Whoopie Doo!!!Cognitive therapy may also be an
effective treatment - a big no no. What is effectivefor adolescents with CFS. Young patients who received CBT have reported improvements in fatigue, functional status, and school attendance.
Not all studies support the benefits of cognitive therapy for CFS. It is important to note that different therapists may have different fundamental assumptions about CBT and may use different techniques. - YOUR point here. For instance, some therapists believe that CFS is a purely psychological problem and that patients must reject the notion of physical causes, abandon all reliance on assistive devices, and participate in challenging exercise programs. Other therapists do not attempt to change patients' underlying beliefs, but instead focus on helping patients conserve energy and better cope with the limitations of their illness.
These are the ones I was thinking of - that I am more familiar with. When considering CBT, patients and their families must be aware of such important differences in therapists.
The power of the mind to improve or oppose health problems is significant, and treatments that promote a positive outlook
are beneficial for any disease.