Discussion paper abstract:

BACKGROUND:   Approximately one in three children and young people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) also have probable depression. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has a growing evidence base as an effective treatment approach for CFS/ME and for depression in this population.

AIMS:   Given the high degree of co-morbidity, this discussion paper aims to compare and contrast CBT for CFS/ME and CBT for depression in children and young people.

METHOD:    The existing literature on CBT for depression and CBT for CFS/ME, in relation to children and young people was reviewed.

RESULTS:   Whilst there are commonalities to both treatments, the cognitive behavioural model of CFS/ME maintenance includes different factors and has a different emphasis to the cognitive behavioural model of depression, resulting in different intervention targets and strategies in a different sequence.

CONCLUSIONS:   A collaborative, formulation-driven approach to intervention should inform the intervention targets and treatment strategies.

Same, Same But Different? Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Approaches for Paediatric CFS/ME and Depression, by ME Loades & T Chalder in Behav Cogn Psychother. 2017 Mar 9:1-16 [Epub ahead of print]