Andy
Senior Member (Voting rights)
Full title: Generalised worry in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome following Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - a prospective cohort study in secondary care
Highlights
• Generalised worry is highly prevalent in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
• Worry was linked with greater fatigue, anxiety and worse work and social adjustment.
• Avoidance behaviour mediated the association of worry with work and social adjustment.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may need to focus more on generalised worry in CFS.
Abstract
Research has shown that generalised anxiety disorder is commonly associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the prevalence of generalised worry in CFS patients and its relationship with fatigue, anxiety and social functioning, before and after Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Our cohort consisted of 470 patients diagnosed with CFS who received CBT at a secondary care, specialist clinic. Patients completed self-report measures investigating levels of generalised worry, fatigue, work and social adjustment, anxiety and depression at baseline (pre-treatment), discharge from treatment, 3-month and 6-month follow up (post treatment). Analysis indicated a high prevalence of generalised worry (72.4%) at assessment. A significant reduction in worry following CBT (M=-3.42, p<.001, 95%CIs: 2.26, 4.57) was observed at discharge, which remained stable at follow-up. Severe baseline worriers had greater overall fatigue score (M=3.74, p=.026, 95%CIs: .33, 7.15) and worse overall work and social adjustment than mild worriers across time-points (M=5.42, p=.035 95%CIs: .27, 10.58). Avoidance behaviour mediated the association between generalised worry and work and social adjustment (95%bootstrap CIs: 013, .080). The majority of patients with CFS had comorbid generalised worry and severe worriers reported greater fatigue, anxiety and worse work and social adjustment. This suggests that CFS patients may benefit from targeting generalised worry during CBT.
Paywall, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789422000065
Highlights
• Generalised worry is highly prevalent in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
• Worry was linked with greater fatigue, anxiety and worse work and social adjustment.
• Avoidance behaviour mediated the association of worry with work and social adjustment.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may need to focus more on generalised worry in CFS.
Abstract
Research has shown that generalised anxiety disorder is commonly associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the prevalence of generalised worry in CFS patients and its relationship with fatigue, anxiety and social functioning, before and after Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Our cohort consisted of 470 patients diagnosed with CFS who received CBT at a secondary care, specialist clinic. Patients completed self-report measures investigating levels of generalised worry, fatigue, work and social adjustment, anxiety and depression at baseline (pre-treatment), discharge from treatment, 3-month and 6-month follow up (post treatment). Analysis indicated a high prevalence of generalised worry (72.4%) at assessment. A significant reduction in worry following CBT (M=-3.42, p<.001, 95%CIs: 2.26, 4.57) was observed at discharge, which remained stable at follow-up. Severe baseline worriers had greater overall fatigue score (M=3.74, p=.026, 95%CIs: .33, 7.15) and worse overall work and social adjustment than mild worriers across time-points (M=5.42, p=.035 95%CIs: .27, 10.58). Avoidance behaviour mediated the association between generalised worry and work and social adjustment (95%bootstrap CIs: 013, .080). The majority of patients with CFS had comorbid generalised worry and severe worriers reported greater fatigue, anxiety and worse work and social adjustment. This suggests that CFS patients may benefit from targeting generalised worry during CBT.
Paywall, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789422000065