Participant attributions for global change ratings in unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Friedberg, Fred; Coronel, Janna; Seva, Viktoria; Adamowicz, Jenna L; Napoli, Anthony
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 21:Number 5(2016:May)
• Page Start: 690
• Page End: 698
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: attributions -- chronic fatigue syndrome -- global impression of change rating -- mixed methods -- worsening; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105314535458
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify participants' attributions for their global impression of change ratings in a behavioral intervention for unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome. At 3-month follow-up, participants ( N = 67) were asked "Why do you think you are (improved, unchanged, worse)?" Improved patients pointed to specific behavioral changes, unchanged patients referred to a lack of change in lifestyle, and worsened patients invoked stress and/or specific life events. Identifying patient perceptions of behaviors associated with patient global impression of change–rated improvement and non-improvement may assist in developing more effective management strategies in clinical care.