Efficacy of web-based cognitive behavioural treatment for adolescents with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

ISRCTN ISRCTN59878666
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN59878666
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00893438
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
06/07/2007
Registration date
29/10/2007
Last edited
08/05/2012
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Elise Van de Putte
Scientific

University Medical Center Utrecht
Postbox 85090
Utrecht
3508 AB
Netherlands

Email e.vandeputte@umcutrecht.nl

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific title
Study acronymFITNET
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of FITNET (web-based cognitive behavioural treatment) for adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in The Netherlands. The second goal of the study is to establish predictors of outcome. It is very important to know the characteristics of patients who will benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Treatment (CBT) and who will not. Possible predictors of outcome are: age, depression, anxiety, fatigue of the mother, parental bonding, self-efficacy, body consciousness of child and mother, physical activity (Actometer).
Ethics approval(s)METC Utrecht gave approval on the 22nd October 2007 (ref: 07-196/K). First patient was included on 30th January 2008.
ConditionChronic Fatigue Syndrome
InterventionAll participants will be randomised to one of the two treatment arms:
1. Intervention with web-based cognitive behavioural treatment
2. Usual care

The duration of the cognitive behavioural programme is limited to 6 months. The adolescents who have been assigned to the usual care will get the opportunity to attend the programme after these 6 months. The total follow-up time is 12 months after the start of the web-based programme.

The web-based programme is developed for both the adolescents and the parents. The programme consists of two parts, a psycho-educational part and a cognitive behavioural part consisting of 21 treatment modules. The therapist activates one or more treatment modules per week, dependent on the progress of the participant. Within a treatment module the participant will keep several journals, answer questions and do several assignments. All answers are sent to the therapist, with whom a weekly email contact will be realised.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. School presence
2. Severity of fatigue
3. Physical functioning as measured by the subscale physical functioning

Efficacy of the web-based programme will be determined after these 6 months. The follow-up measurement at 12 months is meant to define if the result.
Secondary outcome measuresSelf-rated improvement. Efficacy of the web-based programme will be determined after these 6 months. The follow-up measurement at 12 months is meant to define if the result.
Overall study start date01/10/2007
Overall study end date01/10/2010

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit12 Years
Upper age limit18 Years
SexNot Specified
Target number of participants140
Participant inclusion criteriaAdolescents (12 - 18 years) with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Participant exclusion criteria1. Score greater than or equal to 44 on the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children
2. Score greater than or equal to 15 on the Children’s Depression Inventory
3. No availability of computer and/or internet
4. Risk of suicide
5. Mental retardation
Recruitment start date01/10/2007
Recruitment end date01/10/2010

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

University Medical Center Utrecht
Utrecht
3508 AB
Netherlands

Sponsor information

The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (The Netherlands)
Research organisation

Laan van Nieuw Oost Indië 334
Postbox 93 245
The Hague
2509 AE
Netherlands

Email info@zonmw.nl
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01yaj9a77

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (The Netherlands)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 14/04/2012 Yes No