Effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioural treatment for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (FITNET): a randomised controlled trial

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) 2012-04, Vol.379 (9824), p.1412-1418
• Main Authors: Nijhof, Sanne L, Dr, Bleijenberg, Gijs, Prof, Uiterwaal, Cuno SPM, PhD, Kimpen, Jan LL, Prof, van de Putte, Elise M, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescents; Anxiety; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Clinical trials; cognition; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Disabilities; Fatigue; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - diagnosis; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; General aspects; Humans; Internal Medicine; Internet; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Netherlands; Patient Compliance; patients; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; questionnaires; R&D; randomized clinical trials; Reference Values; relative risk; Research & development; research and development; Research programs; Schools; Severity of Illness Index; Side effects; Teenagers; Tertiary treatment; therapeutics; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Treatment Outcome; Treatments
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60025-7

Summary Background Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterised by persistent fatigue and severe disability. Cognitive behavioural therapy seems to be a promising treatment, but its availability is restricted. We developed Fatigue In Teenagers on the interNET (FITNET), the first dedicated internet-based therapeutic program for adolescents with this disorder, and compared its effectiveness with that of usual care. Methods Adolescents aged 12–18 years with chronic fatigue syndrome were assigned to FITNET or usual care in a 1:1 ratio at one tertiary treatment centre in the Netherlands by use of a computer-generated blocked randomisation allocation schedule. The study was open label. Primary outcomes were school attendance, fatigue severity, and physical functioning, and were assessed at 6 months with computerised questionnaires. Analysis was by intention to treat. Thereafter, all patients were offered FITNET if needed. This trial is registered, number ISRCTN59878666. Findings 68 of 135 adolescents were assigned to FITNET and 67 to usual care, and 67 and 64, respectively, were analysed. FITNET was significantly more effective than was usual care for all dichotomised primary outcomes at 6 months—full school attendance (50 [75%] vs 10 [16%], relative risk 4·8, 95% CI 2·7–8·9; p