Cognitive Behavior Therapy Combined with Specialist Medical Care to Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The New York Times published a review of an article in the Lancet that showed Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), combined with specialist medical care, produced clinically and statistically significant improvement as compared to stand-alone specialist medical care for chronic fatigue syndrome. The CBT group was associated with less fatigue and better physical function. Many patient advocacy groups feel the findings imply that the disorder is not due to a virus. On the contrary, the study indicates that chronic fatigue syndrome is a medical condition and CBT can help reduce many disabling symptoms.