The role of the partner and relationship satisfaction on treatment outcome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Verspaandonk, J.; Coenders, Marcel; Bleijenberg, Gijs; Lobbestael, Jill; Knoop, Hans

doi:10.1017/s0033291715000288

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In patient associations they share experiences, feel understood and uncover their sexual problems. Despite experiencing difficulties [27, 46] and putting women first, our male participants do not lose hope of regaining their sex life. Dissatisfied with their sex life, men seek information and sexology advice [38, 47]; they compensate for sexual dysfunction by strengthening intimacy [22] and fostering new sexual practices [37, 38, 41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexuality in male partners of women with fibromyalgia syndrome: A qualitative study

et al. 2019

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The aim of our study was to understand how male partners of women diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome perceive sexuality. Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenology and the Roy Adaptation Model provided the overall framework for this research study. Eighteen participants were recruited through convenience and purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted between February and July of 2017 and included a focus group and twelve indepth interviews. Two main themes were extracted: "facing a new sex life" and "resisting the loss of the couple's sexuality". Fibromyalgia syndrome compromises the couple's sex life. Enhancing intimacy, skin-to-skin contact (during acute FMS outbreaks), finding new positions, non-coital sex and use of sex toys can increase female desire and help coping.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Confronting FSD in FMS requires social and partner support [26]. Women with FMS are supported by their partners in trying to understand the symptoms, seeking information and dealing with the condition, taking responsibility for home duties and childcare [27–29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexuality in male partners of women with fibromyalgia syndrome: A qualitative study

et al. 2019

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“…A recent study showed a negative influence from solicitous responses of the partner on fatigue and disability. 63 This aspect needs to be included in CBT-programs. The large PACE trial compared CBT with GET, specialist medical care alone and adaptive pacing therapy.…”

Section: Etiopathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic fatigue syndrome – an update

Rimbaut

Gutte

Brabander

et al. 2016

Acta Clinica Belgica

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Despite extensive research, none of the proposed etiological factors have shown strong, reproducible scientific evidence. Over the years, the biopsychosocial model integrating many of the proposed hypotheses has been gaining popularity over the biomedical model, where the focus is on one physical cause. Since the etiological mechanism underlying chronic fatigue syndrome is currently unknown, disease-specific treatments do not exist. Various treatments have been investigated but only cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) have shown moderate effectiveness.

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“…The second type of response proposed in the review was solicitous significant other responses, such as encouraging patients to rest or doing tasks on their behalf (Cordingley, Wearden, Appleby, & Fisher, ; Kerns & Rosenberg, ). In several studies, solicitous responses have been shown to be associated with increased levels of fatigue severity and disability (Brooks, Daglish, & Wearden, ; Romano et al ., ; Schmaling, Smith, & Buchwald, ) and recently have been linked with poorer patient improvement following cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT; Verspaandonk, Coenders, Bleijenberg, Lobbestael, & Knoop, ). The review proposed that these solicitous responses may promote decreased patient activity (Band et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant other behavioural responses and patient chronic fatigue syndrome symptom fluctuations in the context of daily life: An experience sampling study

Band

Barrowclough

Emsley

et al. 2015

British J Health Psychol

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ObjectiveSignificant other responses to patients’ symptoms are important for patient illness outcomes in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME); negative responses have been associated with increased patient depression, whilst increased disability and fatigue have been associated with solicitous significant other responses. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between significant other responses and patient outcomes within the context of daily life.DesignExperience Sampling Methodology (ESM).MethodTwenty‐three patients with CFS/ME and their significant others were recruited from specialist CFS/ME services. Sixty momentary assessments, delivered using individual San Francisco Android Smartphones, were conducted over a period of 6 days. All participants reported on affect, dyadic contact, and significant other responses to the patient. Patients reported on symptom severity, disability, and activity management strategies.ResultsNegative significant other responses were associated with increased patient symptom severity and distress reported at the same momentary assessment; there was evidence of a potentially mediating role of concurrent distress on symptom severity. Patient‐perceived solicitous responses were associated with reduced patient activity and disability reported at the same momentary assessment. Lagged analyses indicate that momentary associations between significant other responses and patient outcomes are largely transitory; significant other responses were not associated with any of the patient outcomes at the subsequent assessment.ConclusionThe results indicate that significant other responses are important influences on the day‐to‐day experience of CFS/ME. Further research examining patient outcomes in association with specific significant other behavioural responses is warranted and future interventions that target such significant other behaviours may be beneficial. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? The existing literature has identified that significant other responses are important with respect to patient outcomes in CFS/ME. In particular, when examined cross‐sectionally and longitudinally, negative and solicitous significant other responses are associated with poorer illness outcomes. This study is the first to examine the momentary associations between negative and solicitous responses, as reported by the patient and significant other, and patient‐reported outcomes. An ESM paradigm was used to assess these temporal relationships within the context of participants’ daily life. What does this study add? Negative responses were associated with increased momentary patient distress and symptoms.Perceived solicitousness was associated with activity limitation but less perceived disability.The impact of significant other responses on patient outcomes was found to be transitory.

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The role of the partner and relationship satisfaction on treatment outcome in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract: Partners' solicitous responses and illness perceptions at the start of the therapy can negatively affect the outcome of CBT for CFS. We emphasize the importance of addressing this in therapy.

Cited by 16 publications

References 38 publications

Sexuality in male partners of women with fibromyalgia syndrome: A qualitative study

Sexuality in male partners of women with fibromyalgia syndrome: A qualitative study

Chronic fatigue syndrome – an update

Significant other behavioural responses and patient chronic fatigue syndrome symptom fluctuations in the context of daily life: An experience sampling study

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