Chronic fatigue syndrome responds to psychotherapy, not antiviral drugs alone

Chronic fatigue syndrome responds to psychotherapy

Chronic fatigue syndrome, whose prevalence and exact cause are still unknown, has been shown in a British study to respond to psychotherapy and exercise rather than antiviral drugs alone.

The use of antiviral drugs has been preferred by many sufferers and other clinicians over the years because of other studies that showed that the condition is caused by viruses -- specifically mouse leukemia virus. But the problem with the drugs is their high cost. They are also not generally covered by health insurance.

The chronic fatigue syndrome study, published Thursday in the medical journal The Lancet, was funded by the UK government and conducted in the clinics all over Britain.

Researchers noted that study participants who underwent cognitive or behavioral therapy and exercise, in addition to medical treatment, experienced an improvement in physical functioning and less fatigue compared to others who received medical care alone.

The behavioral therapy interventions used in the study was meant to alter the psychological elements "assumed to be responsible for perpetuation of the participant's symptoms and disability."

The findings suggest that the condition, also called myalgic encephalomyelitis, is more likely psychological and stress-related. But earlier studies have linked viral infection to the development of symptoms at least in the United States, although the evidence is weak since several patients did not have raised antibody levels compared to others.

Since criteria of the condition varies widely, studies have also shown conflicting results and different prevalence estimates. Critics of the British study said some patients with depression, who also experience fatigue, was included in the study. Another study also showed that exercise actually worsened symptoms in some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Posted by George Daniels on Monday February 21 2011, 4:58 AM EST. Ref: NY Times. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0