Trial offers hope for ME sufferers

ME sufferers have been offered new hope following a landmark study which suggests the condition can be reversed with counselling and exercise.

Researchers have now identified two forms of treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), both of which could help thousands of patients.

The ground-breaking study is the most comprehensive to date and challenges the widely accepted belief that the illness cannot be cured.

Scientists, who spent eight years on the research, believe it could herald a new dawn for the treatment of ME.

They hope their findings will dispel the notion that nothing can be done for those living with the condition in the UK – a figure which currently stands at around a quarter of a million.

Researchers found six in 10 patients reported significant improvements after undergoing either cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – a type of counselling which helps people take charge of issues, while encouraging them to increase their activity – or graded exercise therapy (GET), which is based on gradually increasing exercise.

Half of these people reported a return to “normal” energy levels.

However, the study showed one of the most common CFS treatments has no definitive medical benefit.

Adaptive pacing therapy (APT), which teaches patients to match their activity level to the amount of energy they have, does little more than help sufferers manage their illness, the study showed.

Though it has been widely advocated, the therapy has never before been scientifically tested.

Michael Sharpe, professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and co-author of the report, said scientists had achieved a significant “milestone” by proving GET and CBT were both effective and safe.

“Previously it has been thought that these treatments could harm patients and there was a very confused picture,” he said.

“This trial has clarified that picture, finding both GET and CBT have substantial beneficial effects and they are safe if delivered properly.”

Meanwhile, the trial found that while APT patients claimed to be satisfied with their treatment, it ultimately failed to reduce fatigue.

Some 640 adults with CFS from England and Scotland took part in the year-long trial.

All were able to attend hospital clinics for treatment and received specialist medical care.

They were then divided into four groups, three of which were given either APT, CBT or GET for a six-month period.

The success of the treatments was measured by patients who rated their fatigue, physical function, overall health and the ability to lead a normal life. They also monitored sleep patterns, mood, how far they could walk in six minutes and fatigue after exertion.