Limited evidence was found for the psychometric properties and clinical usability of these instruments .
However , the CFS-activities and participation question naire ( APQ ) is a disease-specific instrument with moderate content and construct validity .
PURPOSE To summarize measurement instruments used to evaluate activity limitations and participation restrictions in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome ( CFS ) and review the psychometric properties of these instruments .
Chronic fatigue syndrome causes activity limitations and participation restrictions in one or more areas of life .
Cognitive behaviour therapy for the chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomised controlled trial
Abstract Objective : To evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of adding cognitive behaviour therapy to the medical care of patients presenting with the chronic fatigue syndrome . Design : R and omised controlled trial with final assessment at 12 months . Setting : An infectious diseases outpatient clinic . Subjects : 60 consecutively referred patients meeting consensus criteria for the chronic fatigue syndrome . Interventions : Medical care comprised assessment , advice , and follow up in general practice . Patients who received cognitive behaviour therapy were offered 16 individual weekly sessions in addition to their medical care . Main outcome measures : The proportions of patients ( a ) who achieved normal daily functioning ( Karnofsky score 80 or more ) and ( b ) who achieved a clinical ly significant improvement in functioning ( change in Karnofsky score 10 points or more ) by 12 months after r and omisation . Results : Only two eligible patients refused to participate . All r and omised patients completed treatment . An intention to treat analysis showed that 73 % ( 22/30 ) of recipients of cognitive behaviour therapy achieved a satisfactory outcome as compared with 27 % ( 8/30 ) of patients who were given only medical care ( difference 47 percentage points ; 95 % confidence interval 24 to 69 ) . Similar differences were observed in subsidiary outcome measures . The improvement in disability among patients given cognitive behaviour therapy continued after completion of therapy . Illness beliefs and coping behaviour previously associated with a poor outcome changed more with cognitive behaviour therapy than with medical care alone . Conclusion : Adding cognitive behaviour therapy to the medical care of patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome is acceptable to patients and leads to a sustained reduction in functional impairment . Key messages Key messages There is no generally accepted form of treatment New findings show that patients referred to hospital for the chronic fatigue syndrome have a better outcome if they are given a course of cognitive behaviour therapy than if they receive only basic medical care Clinical improvement with cognitive behaviour therapy may be slow but often continues after treatment has ended Cognitive behaviour therapy should be considered as an option for patients presenting with the chronic fatigue
Limited evidence was found for the psychometric properties and clinical usability of these instruments .
However , the CFS-activities and participation question naire ( APQ ) is a disease-specific instrument with moderate content and construct validity .
PURPOSE To summarize measurement instruments used to evaluate activity limitations and participation restrictions in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome ( CFS ) and review the psychometric properties of these instruments .
Chronic fatigue syndrome causes activity limitations and participation restrictions in one or more areas of life .