Objective: To examine the hypothesis that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with significant psychological and physical issues that can be improved by a multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation programme.
Methods: A battery of psychometric instruments was administered to 39 adolescents with CFS. These instruments were administered prior to a 4 week inpatient admission as well as on discharge. The instruments were also administered to 19 adolescents at 6 month follow up.
Results: The sample included 35 girls and four boys. The Beck Depression Inventory demonstrated high depression scores that improved after the 4 week programme (p < 0.001) and these improvements were maintained after 6 months (p < 0.038). Coopersmith self-esteem scores showed low self-esteem, which improved following the programme (p < 0.001) but there was some fall off at the 6 month follow up. Physical functioning scores improved significantly after the 4 week programme (p < 0.001) and were maintained at 6 months (p < 0.001); clinician ratings of functioning matched patient ratings. On Achenbach profiles the teenagers presented with internalizing problems, which significantly improved following admission (p < 0.001). Parents reported similar findings.
Conclusion: These findings confirm the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of adolescents with CFS with improvements in emotional and physical functioning. Most of the improvements were maintained at 6 months follow up.
