A pilot study of cognitive behavioral stress management effects on stress, quality of life, and symptoms in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome

Corina Lopez, Michael Antoni*, Frank Penedo, Donna Weiss, Stacy Cruess, Mary Catherine Segotas, Lynn Helder, Scott Siegel, Nancy Klimas, Mary Ann Fletcher

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The present pilot study was designed to test the effects of a 12-week group-based cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on stress, quality of life, and symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We hypothesized that participants randomized to CBSM would report improvements in perceived stress, mood, quality of life, and CFS symptomatology from pre- to postintervention compared to those receiving a psychoeducational (PE) seminar control. Method: We recruited 69 persons with a bona fide diagnosis of CFS and randomized 44 to CBSM and 25 to PE. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), and a Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-based CFS symptom checklist pre- and postintervention. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant Group×Time interaction for PSS, POMS-total mood disturbance (TMD), and QOLI scores, such that participants in CBSM evidenced greater improvements than those in PE. Participants in CBSM also reported decreases in severity of CFS symptoms vs. those in PE. Conclusions: Results suggest that CBSM is beneficial for managing distress, improving quality of life, and alleviating CFS symptom severity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)328-334
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume70
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

Funding

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (1 U01 AI45940 and 1R01 NS055672-01).

Keywords

  • CDC symptoms
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Quality of life
  • Stress
  • Stress management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Clinical Psychology

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