Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog

New hope for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome?

Patients who are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are often interested in new treatments for their condition. A report titled “Cognitive Behavior Therapy Benefits Chronic Fatigue Patients, “ in 17 Jul 2008 Medical World News describes a new systematic review of this issue. Fifteen studies were included in the review, all of which assessed cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for the treatment of CFS. A total of 1,043 patients with CFS were studied. And the conclusion? “The studies compared the effects of CBT with those of usual care and other psychological therapies and suggest that in both cases CBT is more effective at reducing the severity of symptoms, provided patients persist with treatment…[and] CBT could be more effective if used as part of a combination treatment approach.” The results of this study are encouraging for patients who are seeking effective treatment approaches for CFS.

The Bottom Line: This study clearly supports the idea that patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may benefit from cognitive behavior therapy.

Reference: Original Article 

Suggested Reading:

1. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Living with the Unknown (Paperback) by Brian E Voncannon (Author)
2. Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know (Living Well) (Paperback by Mary J. Shomon (Author)
3. Great Physician's Rx for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue (Hardcover) by Jordan Rubin (Author), Joseph Brasco (Author)

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

New hope for the treatment of addicts.

Patients who are diagnosed with one or more addictive disorders are often curious about the development of new treatments that may help their condition. A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry 2008 165:881-888, gives additional hope to recovering addicts. The study, titled “Computer-Assisted Delivery of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Addiction: A Randomized Trial of CBT4CBT”, was a randomized clinical trial that divided 77 patients with addictive disorders into two treatment groups. One group received standard treatment for substance abuse and the other group received twice weekly computer-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. The results of the study were impressive. “Participants assigned to the [cognitive-behavioral therapy group] submitted significantly more urine specimens were negative for any type of drugs and tended to have longer continuous periods of abstinence during treatment.” Given the positive results of this study, patients who are seeking effective treatment for their substance abuse disorder may want to investigate whether computer-based cognitive-behavioral therapy is the right approach for them.

The Bottom Line: This study strongly suggests that computer-based cognitive-behavioral therapy may be helpful for patients with substance abuse disorders.

Suggested Reading:

1. Overcoming Addictions: The Spiritual Solution (Chopra, Deepak. Perfect Health Library.) by Deepak Chopra
2. Welcome Home: A Book About Overcoming Addictions Freedom from Addiction: The Chopra Center Method for Overcoming Destructive Habits by Deepak Chopra
3. Sex, Drugs, Gambling and Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions by A. Thomas Horvath

Reference:

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/short/165/7/881?rss=1

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates

of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com