TY - JOUR T1 - Patient education to encourage graded exercise improved physical functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 156 LP - 156 DO - 10.1136/ebm.6.5.156 VL - 6 IS - 5 A2 - , Y1 - 2001/09/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/6/5/156.abstract N2 - (2001) BMJ 322, 387. Powell P, Bentall RP, Nye FJ, et al.. Randomised controlled trial of patient education to encourage graded exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome.. Feb 17;. :. –90.OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
 
 QUESTION: In patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), how effective is an education programme in encouraging graded exercise and in improving physical function? Randomised (unclear allocation concealment*), unblinded,* controlled trial with 12 months follow up. Chronic fatigue clinic and an infectious diseases outpatient clinic in the UK. 148 patients (mean age 33 y, 78% women) who had the Oxford criteria for CFS and a score of <25 on the physical functioning subscale of the Short Form 36 questionnaire. Exclusion criteria were having further physical investigations or taking other treatments; a history of psychotic illness, somatization disorder, eating disorder, or substance abuse; or being confined to a wheelchair or bed. Patients were allocated to 1 of 4 groups. 34 patients were allocated to standardised medical care (control group). Patients allocated to an intervention all received 2 individual treatment sessions and 2 telephone follow up calls, supported by an educational package describing the role of disrupted physiological regulation in … ER -