Densham, Sarah, Williams, Deborah, Johnson, Anne et al. · Journal of psychosomatic research · 2016 · DOI
This study tested whether learning to accept and adapt to difficult experiences—a skill called psychological flexibility—could help ME/CFS patients improve their quality of life. Over 165 patients attended a six-week group treatment program and were measured before, immediately after, and six months later. The program helped improve both psychological flexibility and quality of life, with the benefits lasting at least six months.
This is one of the first studies applying psychological flexibility—a well-established concept in other chronic conditions—to ME/CFS, suggesting that adaptation strategies beyond disease management may improve patient quality of life. For ME/CFS patients seeking multifaceted treatment approaches, this work supports the value of interdisciplinary programs that address both psychological and occupational engagement.
This study does not prove that psychological flexibility *causes* improved quality of life, only that they are associated. Without a control group, we cannot determine whether improvements resulted from the treatment program specifically or from natural recovery, placebo effects, or simply receiving attention. The long-term durability of benefits beyond six months remains unknown.
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
Densham, Sarah, Williams, Deborah, Johnson, Anne, & Turner-Cobb, Julie M (2016). Enhanced psychological flexibility and improved quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.. Journal of psychosomatic research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.07.009
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-densham-2016-enhanced-psychological,
author = {Densham, Sarah and Williams, Deborah and Johnson, Anne and Turner-Cobb, Julie M},
title = {Enhanced psychological flexibility and improved quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.},
journal = {Journal of psychosomatic research},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.07.009},
note = {PubMed: 27521652},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/densham-2016-enhanced-psychological},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/densham-2016-enhanced-psychological
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