Dizziness or feeling faint on standing 25% 64% Headaches of type not previously experienced 20% 59% Inability to cope with temperature changes 22% 70% Increased sensitivity to light and/or sound and/or smells 24% 65% Recurrent sore throats and enlarged glands 25% 60% Sleep disturbance or unrefreshing sleep 10% 88% 3:2:3 Factors Influencing Quantitative Data All research data is affected by various factors. In this survey the effectiveness of courses is influenced by factors shown in the qualitative responses in Appendices 1 and 3 and by the listed criteria.
3:5 – 3:5:1 CBT 3:5:1:1 CBT Courses that led to Symptom Improvement Overall and whichever of the listed criteria was considered, CBT courses brought about improvements for a small minority: 0.4% said they felt so much better that they considered themselves well The overall percentage of respondents (i.e. irrespective of the listed criteria) whose symptoms improved was 12% In the listed criteria: CBT courses without overlapping elements – versus – CBT courses with overlapping elements: CBT courses which were CBT only – no elements of GET or Pacing – symptoms improved for 8% of respondents CBT courses which had elements of GET – but no Pacing – symptoms improved for 5% of respondents CBT courses which had elements of Pacing – but no GET – symptoms improved for 16% of respondents CBT courses had elements of both GET and Pacing – symptoms improved for 16% of respondents CBT courses held by therapists stated to have an ME/CFS specialism – versus – CBT courses held by therapists not stated to have an ME/CFS specialism: CBT courses held by therapists stated to have an ME/CFS specialism, symptoms improved for 19% of respondents CBT courses held by therapists not stated to have an ME/CFS specialism, symptoms improved for 7% of respondents CBT one-to-one courses – versus – CBT group courses: CBT one-to-one courses, symptoms improved for 13% of respondents CBT group courses, symptoms improved for 11% of respondents Note: very little difference here, but see below, the courses where symptoms became worse and courses which were appropriate/not appropriate to needs percentages. CBT courses held by therapists with differing beliefs the nature of ME/CFS: CBT courses held by therapists who believed that ME/CFS is a physical illness, symptoms improved for 14% of respondents CBT courses held by therapists who believed that ME/CFS is a mixture of a psychological and a physical illness, symptoms improved for 19% of respondents
GET courses without overlapping elements – versus – GET courses with overlapping elements: GET courses which were GET only – no elements of CBT or Pacing – were partly appropriate to the needs of 10% of respondents GET courses which had elements of CBT but no Pacing – were partly appropriate to the needs of 14% of respondents GET courses which had elements of Pacing – but no CBT – were partly appropriate to the needs of 23% of respondents GET courses which had elements of both CBT and Pacing – were partly appropriate to the needs of 27% of respondents GET courses held by therapists stated to have an ME/CFS specialism – versus – GET courses held by therapists not stated to have an ME/CFS specialism: GET courses held by therapists stated to have an ME/CFS specialism were partly appropriate to the needs of 26% of respondents GET courses held by therapists not stated to have an ME/CFS specialism were partly appropriate to the needs of 11% of respondents GET one-to-one courses – versus – GET courses: GET one-to-one courses were partly appropriate to the needs of 19% of respondents GET group courses were partly appropriate to the needs of 20% of respondents GET courses held by therapists with differing beliefs about the nature of ME/CFS: GET courses held by therapists who believed that ME/CFS is a physical illness, were partly appropriate to the needs of 10% of respondents GET courses held by therapists who believed that ME/CFS is a mixture of a psychological and a physical illness, were partly appropriate to the needs of 28% of respondents GET courses held by therapists who believed that ME/CFS is a psychological illness, were partly appropriate to the of 12% of respondents GET courses which had no effect on symptoms: 40% of courses were partly appropriate to the respondents’ needs GET courses attended in full – versus – GET courses only partly attended: When respondents attended a whole GET course, 23% found them to be partly appropriate to their needs When respondents attended part of a GET course, 24% found it to be partly appropriate to their needs Example comment: ME moderate before GET course, remained moderate after course. Symptoms somewhat worse after. Course partly appropriate to needs.
Cognitive dysfunction 18% 80% Aching joints without swelling or redness 16% 69% Dizziness or feeling faint on standing 25% 64% Headaches of type not previously experienced 20% 59% Inability to cope with temperature changes 22% 70% Increased sensitivity to light and/or sound and/or smells 24% 65% Recurrent sore throats and enlarged glands 25% 60% Sleep disturbance or unrefreshing sleep 10% 88%