Goedendorp, Martine M, van der Werf, Sieberen P, Bleijenberg, Gijs et al. · Journal of psychosomatic research · 2013 · DOI
This study looked at whether cognitive impairments (problems with thinking and memory) measured by tests could predict how well patients would improve with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for ME/CFS. Researchers also examined whether some patients might be doing poorly on tests due to not trying their best, rather than actual cognitive problems. The study found that while some patients did perform worse on these tests, this didn't predict whether CBT would help reduce fatigue or improve daily functioning—though patients who weren't trying their best were more likely to drop out of treatment.
Understanding which cognitive factors predict CBT response is crucial for personalizing ME/CFS treatment and setting realistic expectations. This study suggests that poor test performance alone should not exclude patients from CBT, but that motivational and psychological factors underlying underperformance warrant clinical attention to reduce treatment abandonment.
This study does not prove that cognitive impairments cause treatment failure or that poor test performance is purely motivational. The research cannot establish causation—underperformance and dropout may both result from third factors like symptom severity or psychological distress, rather than underperformance causing dropout. Results may not generalize to ME/CFS populations in other countries or treatment settings.
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
Goedendorp, Martine M, van der Werf, Sieberen P, Bleijenberg, Gijs, Tummers, Marcia, & Knoop, Hans (2013). Does neuropsychological test performance predict outcome of cognitive behavior therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and what is the role of underperformance?. Journal of psychosomatic research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.011
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-goedendorp-2013-does-neuropsychological,
author = {Goedendorp, Martine M and van der Werf, Sieberen P and Bleijenberg, Gijs and Tummers, Marcia and Knoop, Hans},
title = {Does neuropsychological test performance predict outcome of cognitive behavior therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and what is the role of underperformance?},
journal = {Journal of psychosomatic research},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.011},
note = {PubMed: 23972413},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/goedendorp-2013-does-neuropsychological},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/goedendorp-2013-does-neuropsychological
Contribute
Private, reviewed by a human. Not a public comment thread.