Dennison, Laura, Stanbrook, Rachel, Moss-Morris, Rona et al. · British journal of health psychology · 2010 · DOI
This study asked 16 young people with ME/CFS and their parents about their experiences with two types of therapy: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and psycho-education (PE). Most families found both treatments helpful and acceptable, particularly the practical parts like setting goals and gradually increasing activity. However, some felt the emotional aspects of the illness weren't fully addressed, and others had mixed feelings about how much family involvement was needed.
Patient and family perspectives are essential for understanding real-world acceptability and utility of ME/CFS treatments beyond efficacy metrics. This study highlights what elements of therapy families find valuable and where service delivery can be improved, informing more patient-centered intervention design for adolescents with ME/CFS.
This qualitative study does not establish efficacy or comparative effectiveness of CBT versus PE—it examines subjective experiences only. The small sample size and lack of quantitative outcome measures mean findings cannot be generalized to all CFS populations, and the study cannot determine whether perceived helpfulness correlates with actual clinical improvement or sustained recovery.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Dennison, Laura, Stanbrook, Rachel, Moss-Morris, Rona, Yardley, Lucy, & Chalder, Trudie (2010). Cognitive behavioural therapy and psycho-education for chronic fatigue syndrome in young people: reflections from the families' perspective.. British journal of health psychology. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910709X440034
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-dennison-2010-cognitive-behavioural,
author = {Dennison, Laura and Stanbrook, Rachel and Moss-Morris, Rona and Yardley, Lucy and Chalder, Trudie},
title = {Cognitive behavioural therapy and psycho-education for chronic fatigue syndrome in young people: reflections from the families' perspective.},
journal = {British journal of health psychology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1348/135910709X440034},
note = {PubMed: 19422732},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/dennison-2010-cognitive-behavioural},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/dennison-2010-cognitive-behavioural
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