Pilot study investigating the utility of a specialized online symptom management program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome as compared to an online meditation program

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive statistics for experimental and control groups at baseline and follow-up

Measures	Baseline				Follow-up
	Experimental		Control		Experimental		Control
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD
MFI general fatigue	16.95	2.99	17.33	3.20	15.68	4.64	17.11	2.62
MFI physical fatigue	16.37	3.48	16.33	3.28	15.84	3.10	17.44	2.01
MFI mental fatigue	14.05	3.37	14.78	4.71	12.11	3.75	14.33	5.66
MFI reduced activity	14.47	3.73	16.89	4.08	14.47	8.44	17.11	3.02
MFI reduced motivation	11.63	4.25	12.67	3.54	9.63	2.99	12.22	3.11
MHLC internal	0.45	0.20	0.56	0.27	0.64	0.13	0.52	0.18
MHLC chance	0.47	0.18	0.44	0.19	0.35	0.10	0.48	0.13
MHLC doctors	0.18	0.07	0.19	0.10	0.21	0.17	0.22	0.09
MHLC powerful others	0.41	0.13	0.41	0.16	0.37	0.17	0.46	0.10
MHLC other people	0.23	0.09	0.22	0.07	0.27	0.16	0.24	0.05
CDC total score	148.00	70.81	142.00	75.66	130.42	76.00	137.63	63.47
CDC depression	6.68	4.16	5.00	4.03	2.58	2.55	5.00	2.00
CDC sleeping problems	12.74	8.39	12.11	10.64	9.16	6.25	11.89	10.04
CDC difficulty concentrating	10.47	7.05	10.33	7.55	8.58	6.22	12.44	8.75
MAAS	48.06	4.44	47.56	4.64	44.06	9.12	45.44	1.12

Abbreviations: CDC, Centers for Disease Control Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Inventory; MAAS, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; MFI, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; MHLC, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Results of outcome measures of baseline and follow-up

Measures	Groups	Mean difference	95% CI	Within-groups		Between groups		Effects size
				df	t	df	F
MFI general fatigue	Experimental	1.26	(−1.03 to 3.56)	18	1.16	1, 27	0.62	0.03
	Control	0.22	(−1.88 to 2.32)	8	0.24
MFI physical fatigue	Experimental	0.53	(−1.03 to 2.09)	18	0.71	1, 27	1.37	0.05
	Control	−1.11	(−3.01 to 0.79)	8	−1.35
MFI mental fatigue	Experimental	1.95	(0.72 to 3.18)	18	3.33**	1, 27	0.79	0.03
	Control	0.44	(−2.56 to 3.45)	8	0.34
MFI reduced activity	Experimental	0.00	(−3.81 to 3.81)	18	0.00	1, 27	0.06	0.00
	Control	−0.22	(−1.84 to 1.40)	8	−0.32
MFI reduced motivation	Experimental	2.00	(0.16 to 3.84)	18	2.28*	1, 27	1.14	0.05
	Control	0.44	(−0.65 to 1.54)	8	0.94
MHLC internal	Experimental	−0.18	(−0.30 to −0.07)	18	−3.39**	1, 27	3.31	0.12
	Control	0.04	(−0.11 to 0.19)	8	0.63
MHLC chance	Experimental	0.12	(0.03 to 0.22)	18	2.64*	1, 27	8.96**	0.27
	Control	−0.04	(−0.17 to 0.10)	8	−0.63
MHLC doctors	Experimental	−0.03	(−0.12 to 0.05)	18	−0.075	1, 27	0.01	0.00
	Control	−0.03	(−0.08 to 0.03)	8	−1.20
MHLC powerful others	Experimental	0.04	(−0.04 to 0.12)	18	0.99	1, 27	4.42*	0.16
	Control	−0.05	(−0.15 to 0.05)	8	−1.22
MHLC other people	Experimental	−0.04	(−0.12 to 0.04)	18	−0.95	1, 27	0.03	0.00
	Control	−0.03	(−0.08 to 0.03)	8	−0.97
CDC total score	Experimental	17.58	(−2.44 to 37.59)	18	1.85	1, 27	0.20	0.01
	Control	4.38	(−26.88 to 35.63)	8	0.33
CDC depression	Experimental	4.11	(1.76 to 6.44)	18	3.68**	1, 27	4.08	0.15
	Control	0.00	(−3.12 to 3.12)	8	0.00
CDC sleeping problems	Experimental	3.58	(1.10 to 3.04)	18	3.04**	1, 27	4.99*	0.17
	Control	0.22	(−1.53 to1.97)	8	0.29
CDC difficulty concentrating	Experimental	1.89	(−0.35 to 1.78)	18	1.76	1, 27	3.00	0.11
	Control	−2.11	(−6.96 to 2.74)	8	−1.00
MAAS	Experimental	4.00	(−0.47 to 1.89)	18	1.89	1, 27	0.03	0.00
	Control	2.11	(−1.11 to 5.34)	8	1.51

Notes: Means difference, 95% CI, paired t-test, ANCOVA, and between-groups effect sizes.

* P<0.05;

** P<0.01.

Abbreviations: ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; CDC, Centers for Disease Control Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Inventory; CI, confidence interval; MAAS, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; MFI, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; MHLC, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale.