Objective:
\nCognitive-behavioral models of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) propose\u00a0that patients respond to symptoms with 2 predominant activity\u00a0patterns-activity limitation and all-or-nothing behaviors-both of which\u00a0may contribute to illness persistence. The current study investigated\u00a0whether activity patterns occurred at the same time as, or followed on\u00a0from, patient symptom experience and affect.<\/p>\n
Method
\nTwenty-three adults with CFS were recruited from U.K. CFS services.\u00a0Experience sampling methodology (ESM) was used to assess fluctuations in\u00a0patient symptom experience, affect, and activity management patterns\u00a0over 10 assessments per day for a total of 6 days.<\/p>\n
Assessments were\u00a0conducted within patients’ daily life and were delivered through an app\u00a0on touchscreen Android mobile phones. Multilevel model analyses were\u00a0conducted to examine the role of self-reported patient fatigue, pain,\u00a0and affect as predictors of change in activity patterns at the same and\u00a0subsequent assessment.<\/p>\n
Results
\nCurrent experience of fatigue-related symptoms and pain predicted higher\u00a0patient activity limitation at the current and subsequent assessments\u00a0whereas subjective wellness predicted higher all-or-nothing behavior at\u00a0both times. Current pain predicted less all-or-nothing behavior at the\u00a0subsequent assessment.<\/p>\n
In contrast to hypotheses, current positive\u00a0affect was predictive of current activity limitation whereas current\u00a0negative affect was predictive of current all-or-nothing\u00a0 behavior. Both\u00a0activity patterns varied at the momentary level.<\/p>\n
Conclusions
\nPatient symptom experiences appear to be driving patient activity\u00a0management patterns in line with the cognitive-behavioral model of CFS.\u00a0ESM offers a useful method for examining multiple interacting variables\u00a0within the context of patients’ daily life.<\/p>\n
Activity patterns in response to symptoms in patients being treated\u00a0for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An experience sampling methodology study<\/a> by\u00a0Band R, Barrowclough C, Caldwell K, Emsley R, Wearden A. in Health Psychology, 7 Nov 2016 [Preprint]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Research abstract: Objective: Cognitive-behavioral models of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) propose\u00a0that patients respond to symptoms with 2 predominant activity\u00a0patterns-activity limitation and all-or-nothing behaviors-both of which\u00a0may contribute to illness persistence. The current study investigated\u00a0whether activity patterns occurred at the same time … Continue reading