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Enhanced psychological flexibility and improved quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Densham, S., Williams, D., Johnson, A. and Turner-Cobb, J., 2016. Enhanced psychological flexibility and improved quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 88 (Sept), 42 - 47.

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.07.009

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Psychological Flexibility (PF) is a relatively new concept in physical health. It can be defined as an overarching process of being able to accept the presence of wanted/unwanted experiences, choosing whether to change or persist in behaviour in response to those experiences. Associations between processes of PF and quality of life (QoL) have been found in long-term health conditions such as chronic pain, PF has not yet been applied to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). METHODS: Changes in PF, fatigue severity and QoL were examined in one hundred and sixty-five patients with CFS/ME engaged in a six-week outpatient interdisciplinary group treatment programme. Participants were assessed using a series of self-report measures at the start of the start (T1) and end of a six-week programme (T2) and at six months follow up (T3). RESULTS: Significant changes in PF and QoL were observed from pre-treatment (T1) to post treatment follow-up (T2 and T3); changes in fatigue severity were observed from T1 to T3 only. Controlling for fatigue severity, changes in the PF dimension of activity/occupational engagement were associated with improvement in QoL at six month follow up (T3) but not at six weeks post programme (T2). CONCLUSION: Findings indicate an interdisciplinary group treatment approach for people with CFS/ME may be associated with improved QoL, processes of PF and fatigue severity, supporting a link between PF and long term health conditions. Results highlight links between PF and patient QoL in CFS/ME and the value of interdisciplinary treatment approaches in this patient population.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:0022-3999
Uncontrolled Keywords:Acceptance ; Chronic fatigue ; Interdisciplinary treatment ; Psychological flexibility ; Quality of life ; Values
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:24658
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:31 Aug 2016 15:19
Last Modified:14 Mar 2022 13:58

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