Evaluation of a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation programme for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome

✍ Scribed by Paul Denborough; Simon Kinsella; John Stevens; Lionel Lubitz

• Publisher: Informa plc
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 119 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1039-8562
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1665.2003.00559.x

✦ Synopsis

Objective: To examine the hypothesis that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with significant psychological and physical issues that can be improved by a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation programme.

Methods: A battery of psychometric instruments was administered to 39 adolescents with CFS. These instruments were administered prior to a 4 week inpatient admission as well as on discharge. The instruments were also administered to 19 adolescents at 6 month follow up.

Results: The sample included 35 girls and four boys. The Beck Depression Inventory demonstrated high depression scores that improved after the 4 week programme (p < 0.001) and these improvements were maintained after 6 months (p < 0.038). Coopersmith self-esteem scores showed low self-esteem, which improved following the programme (p < 0.001) but there was some fall off at the 6 month follow up. Physical functioning scores improved significantly after the 4 week programme (p < 0.001) and were maintained at 6 months (p < 0.001); clinician ratings of functioning matched patient ratings. On Achenbach profiles the teenagers presented with internalizing problems, which significantly improved following admission (p < 0.001). Parents reported similar findings.

Conclusion: These findings confirm the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of adolescents with CFS with improvements in emotional and physical functioning. Most of the improvements were maintained at 6 months follow up.