Cognitive behaviour therapy is effective in treating the
symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a recent
systematic review carried out by Cochrane Researchers. Chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a potentially long-lasting illness
that can cause considerable distress and disability. Some
estimates suggest it may affect as many as 1 in 100 of the
population globally. There is no widely accepted explanation for
the disease and patients are currently offered a variety of
different treatments. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) uses
psychological techniques to balance negative thoughts that may
impair recovery with more realistic alternatives. In treating
CFS, these techniques are combined with a gradual increase in
activity levels. The researchers looked at data from 15 studies
involving a total of 1,043 patients with CFS. The studies
compared the effects of CBT with those of usual care and other
psychological therapies and suggest that in both cases CBT is
more effective at reducing the severity of sym