Prins, J B, Bleijenberg, G, Bazelmans, E et al. · Lancet (London, England) · 2001 · DOI
This study tested whether cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)—a type of talking therapy that focuses on thoughts and behaviours—helps people with ME/CFS. Researchers compared CBT with support groups and no treatment across three hospitals, following 278 patients for 14 months. CBT showed modest benefits for fatigue and daily functioning compared to the other groups, though only about one-third to one-half of patients experienced meaningful improvement.
This study is one of the first rigorous multicentre trials testing whether CBT—a widely recommended treatment—actually benefits ME/CFS patients in routine clinical settings with standard-trained therapists. The finding that CBT outperformed controls provides evidence supporting its use, while the modest absolute improvement rates highlight that it is not a cure and that not all patients benefit equally.
This study does not prove CBT cures ME/CFS or works equally well for all patients. The improvement rates (35–50%) mean that many patients saw no clinically significant change, and the study cannot explain why some patients benefit while others do not. Additionally, the study design cannot determine whether improvements were due to CBT's specific techniques or to non-specific factors like attention and hope.
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
Prins, J B, Bleijenberg, G, Bazelmans, E, Elving, L D, de Boo, T M, Severens, J L, et al. (2001). Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.. Lancet (London, England). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04198-2
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-prins-2001-cognitive-behaviour,
author = {Prins, J B and Bleijenberg, G and Bazelmans, E and Elving, L D and de Boo, T M and Severens, J L and van der Wilt, G J and Spinhoven, P and van der Meer, J W},
title = {Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.},
journal = {Lancet (London, England)},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04198-2},
note = {PubMed: 11265953},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/prins-2001-cognitive-behaviour},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/prins-2001-cognitive-behaviour
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