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Self‐help treatment of chronic fatigue in the community: A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Chalder T.,
Wallace P.,
Wessely S.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8287.1997.tb00535.x
Subject(s) - medicine , randomized controlled trial , distress , physical therapy , chronic fatigue syndrome , chronic fatigue , intervention (counseling) , psychological distress , population , self management , clinical psychology , psychiatry , mental health , environmental health , machine learning , computer science
Objectives . To evaluate the efficacy of a self‐help booklet and specific advice in reducing chronic fatigue in a primary care population aged 18–34 years. Design . A randomized controlled trial. Methods . A self‐help intervention ( N = 70) was compared with no treatment ( N = 80). The main outcome measures were a fatigue questionnaire and the 12‐item General Health Questionnaire. Follow‐up was completed on 127 patients. Results . The self‐help group showed significantly greater improvements in fatigue ( p = .01) and psychological distress ( p < .01) than controls. At follow‐up, 63 per cent of the self‐help completers achieved a good outcome (scored less than 4 on the fatigue questionnaire) compared with 39 per cent of the control group. Conclusions . The provision of a self‐help booklet and specific advice during a consultation with a research nurse was more effective than no treatment at improving fatigue and psychological distress. General practitioners should be encouraged to use self‐help literature in the management of patients with chronic fatigue.