Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Tom Kindlon, Charles Shepherd
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

Letters1 December 2015Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue SyndromeTom Kindlon and Charles Shepherd, MB BSTom KindlonFrom Irish ME/CFS Association, Dublin, Ireland, and ME Association, Buckingham, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author and Charles Shepherd, MB BSFrom Irish ME/CFS Association, Dublin, Ireland, and ME Association, Buckingham, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L15-5175 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We concur with Smith and colleagues that evidence on harms for such therapies as GET for ME/CFS is insufficient (1, 2). Trials of GET for these conditions have focused on efficacy measures, which do not provide good information on whether adverse events occurred (2). A systematic review by Marques and associates assessed the reporting of “treatment side effects” in 16 randomized, controlled trials (3). Eleven were allocated the lowest mark, with only 1, the PACE trial, awarded the top mark (3, 4).One randomized, controlled trial is generally seen as insufficient to make firm recommendations. Moreover, questions ...References1. Smith ME, Haney E, McDonagh M, Pappas M, Daeges M, Wasson N, et al. Treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:841-50. [PMID: 26075755]. doi:10.7326/M15-0114 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Kindlon T. Reporting of harms associated with graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Bull IACFS ME. 2011;19:59-111. Google Scholar3. Marques MM, De Gucht V, Gouveia MJ, Leal I, Maes S. Differential effects of behavioral interventions with a graded physical activity component in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue (Syndrome): an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2015;40:123-37. [PMID: 26112761] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Chalder T, Goldsmith KA, White PD, Sharpe M, Pickles AR. Rehabilitative therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: a secondary mediation analysis of the PACE trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2015;2:141-52. [PMID: 26359750] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Kindlon T. Harms of cognitive behaviour therapy designed to increase activity levels in chronic fatigue syndrome: questions remain [Letter]. Psychother Psychosom. 2011;80:110-1. [PMID: 21212715] doi:10.1159/000320778 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Irish ME/CFS Association, Dublin, Ireland, and ME Association, Buckingham, United Kingdom.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L15-0448. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoDiagnostic Methods for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop Elizabeth Haney , M.E. Beth Smith , Marian McDonagh , Miranda Pappas , Monica Daeges , Ngoc Wasson , and Heidi D. Nelson Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome M.E. Beth Smith , Elizabeth Haney , and Heidi D. Nelson Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Peter D. White , Daniel J. Clauw , Jos W.M. van der Meer , Rona Moss-Morris , and Renee R. Taylor Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Maik Speedy Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Alem Matthees Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Lily Chu , Lucinda Bateman , Todd Davenport , Eleanor Stein , and Staci Stevens Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sean B.M. Kirby Metrics Cited byChronic Fatigue Syndrome (and Chronic Fatigue) 1 December 2015Volume 163, Issue 11Page: 887-888KeywordsAdverse eventsClinical trialsDisclosureExerciseFatigueHealth surveysSafetySystematic reviews ePublished: 1 December 2015 Issue Published: 1 December 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...