Thomas, Peter W, Thomas, Sarah, Kersten, Paula et al. · BMC neurology · 2010 · DOI
This study tested whether a group-based program combining cognitive behavioral therapy and energy management techniques could help people with multiple sclerosis reduce fatigue and improve daily functioning. Researchers randomly assigned 180 people with MS and significant fatigue to either receive the new 6-session program or continue with their usual care, then tracked their fatigue levels and quality of life over one year.
While this is an MS-focused study, its combined cognitive behavioral and energy management approach parallels strategies being explored in ME/CFS fatigue research, since both conditions involve debilitating fatigue that is poorly addressed by standard medical care. Understanding which behavioral and self-efficacy components most effectively reduce fatigue severity across conditions could inform treatment development for ME/CFS patients seeking non-pharmacological interventions.
This study does not establish that fatigue in MS and ME/CFS share identical mechanisms or respond identically to behavioral interventions. The findings apply specifically to MS populations and cannot be directly extrapolated to ME/CFS without independent replication in that patient population. Additionally, this trial protocol paper describes the study design rather than reporting primary outcome results, so clinical efficacy remains to be evaluated in published findings.
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
Thomas, Peter W, Thomas, Sarah, Kersten, Paula, Jones, Rosemary, Nock, Alison, Slingsby, Vicky, et al. (2010). Multi-centre parallel arm randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a group-based cognitive behavioural approach to managing fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis.. BMC neurology. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-10-43
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-thomas-2010-multi-centre,
author = {Thomas, Peter W and Thomas, Sarah and Kersten, Paula and Jones, Rosemary and Nock, Alison and Slingsby, Vicky and Green, Colin and Baker, Roger and Galvin, Kate and Hillier, Charles},
title = {Multi-centre parallel arm randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a group-based cognitive behavioural approach to managing fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis.},
journal = {BMC neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1186/1471-2377-10-43},
note = {PubMed: 20553617},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/thomas-2010-multi-centre},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/thomas-2010-multi-centre
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