Sunday, March 11, 2012

RES: A mind-body technique for symptoms related to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue

Note: This study is behind a pay wall. It is assumed that when the
authors refer to "chronic fatigue" they actually mean to refer to the
syndrome rather than the symptom. It is difficult to draw conclusions
from such a small group - in particular the abstract makes no mention
of why the largest percentage of drop outs was apparently in the
mind/body treatment arm. A similar program is offered over the
Internet for several hundred dollars.
More information on a similar Mayo Clinic based study can be found
here: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01046370

Explore (NY). 2012 Mar;8(2):92-8.
A mind-body technique for symptoms related to fibromyalgia and chronic fati=
gue.

Toussaint LL, Whipple MO, Abboud LL, Vincent A, Wahner-Roedler DL.
Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA.

Abstract

CONTEXT:
A novel mind-body approach (amygdala retraining) is hypothesized to
improve symptoms related to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

OBJECTIVE:
To examine the use of a mind-body approach for improving symptoms
related to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

DESIGN:
This was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING:
The study was conducted in a tertiary-care fibromyalgia and chronic
fatigue clinic.

PATIENTS:
Patients with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or both were included.

INTERVENTIONS:
Patients were randomly assigned to receive amygdala retraining along
with standard care or standard care alone. Standard care involved
attending a 1.5-day multidisciplinary program. The amygdala retraining
group received an additional 2.5-hour training course in which the key
tools and techniques adapted from an existing program were taught to
the patient.

A home-study video course and associated text were provided to
supplement the on-site program. Both groups received telephone calls
twice a month to answer questions related to technique and to provide
support.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Validated self-report questionnaires related to general health,
well-being, and symptoms, including Short Form-36, Measure Yourself
Medical Outcome Profile, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Epworth
Sleepiness Scale, and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.

RESULTS:
Of the 44 patients randomly assigned who completed baseline
assessments, 21 patients completed the study (14 in the standard care
group and 7 in the study group). Median age was 48 years (range, 27-56
years), and female subjects comprised 91% of the group.

Analyses demonstrated statistically significant improvements in scores
for physical health, energy, pain, symptom distress, and fatigue in
patients who received the amygdala retraining compared with standard
care.

Copyright =C2=A9 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

--=20
I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of
something and knowing something.

=A0=A0 Richard Feynman The Physics Teacher Vol. 7, issue 6 (1969)

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