Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A randomised controlled trial of an outpatient group programme

INTERVENTION: 1. CBT 2. Support/Education (control for non‐specific group factors) 3. Standard Medical Care Assessment: pretreatment, 6 months, 1 year follow‐up. Setting: Consecutive referrals from primary care and secondary outpatient clinic (this combines services from 2 NHS Trusts). CONDITION: Symptoms and general pathology: Other symptoms and general pathology ; Signs and Symptoms ; Chronic fatigue syndrome PRIMARY OUTCOME: Conventional standardised outcome measures will be used. ; Within this the main measures include SF36, Physical Function Measure (STET), HADS, CFS Neurocognitive battery and the Fatigue Scale. The study will compare both the outcomes and costs. Relevant resource use includes not only the direct costs of the interventions, but also the costs of managing the symptoms of CFS. ; The cost benefit analysis will adopt specific outcome criteria for functional performance and emotional distress to derive the number needed to treat (NNT) ratio in order to compare the three groups. Assumptions and uncertainties in either resource use or outcome will be tested using sensitivity analysis. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Not provided at time of registration INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients suffering chronic fatigue syndrome