Counselling and exercise ‘best treatments for CFS and ME’

Exercise and talking therapies may help up to 60 per cent of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a new UK study has suggested.

The PACE trial, which involved 640 patients in England and Scotland, evaluated the safety and effectiveness of three possible treatments: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy and adaptive pacing therapy.

It was shown that graded exercise therapy and CBT were the most effective, leading experts to suggest that all patients with fatigue caused by CFS and ME should be offered these options.

Professor Peter White, from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry and Queen Mary, University of London, said: "While there is still room for improvement, this is a real step forward in informing patients with CFS/ME which treatments can help to improve their health and ability to lead a more normal life."

A statement from the Association of Young People with ME added that it hopes the report will strengthen patient confidence in the therapy options.