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A reexamination of the cognitive behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome
Author(s) -
Sunnquist Madison,
Jason Leonard A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22593
Subject(s) - psychology , moderation , chronic fatigue syndrome , moderated mediation , mediation , cognition , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , political science , law
Objective The cognitive behavioral model of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) suggests that cognitions and reduced activity level perpetuate the fatigue and impairment that individuals with CFS experience. The two empirical evaluations of this model resulted in conflicting findings. The current study examines the influence of case definition fulfillment on the applicability of this model to CFS. Method A moderated mediation analysis was conducted on 990 individuals with CFS to reexamine the behavioral pathway of this model. Case definition fulfillment was entered as a moderator. Results Findings were generally inconsistent with the cognitive behavioral model of CFS. Case definition fulfillment significantly moderated the relation between activity level and physical impairment ( β = –0.08, p = 0.03); individuals who met more stringent case definitions demonstrated a weaker relation between activity level and impairment. Conclusions This model may not accurately represent the experience of individuals with CFS, particularly those who fulfill more stringent case definitions.