Comparing Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Micro Breaks for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and micro breaks in managing symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Participants diagnosed with CFS/ME will engage in either ACT or micro breaks to assess improvements in their fatigue and overall functioning. The study aims to determine which intervention is more beneficial for enhancing the quality of life in affected individuals. The approach includes online therapeutic procedures, making it accessible for participants with internet access.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis for CFS/ME
* Psychiatric clinical stability in the past 3 months:
* No diagnostic change to other categories of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)
* No psychiatric inpatient treatments
* No psychiatric emergency treatments
* No suicide attempts
* Possession of internet access
* Sufficient skills to use electronic devices
* The willingness to engage in the described therapeutic procedures or interventions (ACT, MBEL)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Insufficient knowledge of German
* Severe psychiatric disorders (e.g. personality and posttraumatic stress disorders, dissociative and psychotic disorders, intelligence reduction, untreated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and acute suicidal tendencies
* Untreated or severe internal medicine disorders e.g., thyroid dysfunction, central and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (i.e., apnea-hypopnea index \>15 and/or "high-risk group for obstructive sleep apnea" according to the Berlin Questionnaire)
* Cardiovascular disease such as chronic heart failure
* Severe or untreated neurological diseases (e.g. Parkinson's disease, dementia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy)
* Alcohol and drug dependence
* Initiation of psychopharmacotherapy at a dosage provided for guideline-appropriate treatment of a mental disorder according to the Drug Compendium in the past 3 months
* Start of other psychotherapy procedures in the last 3 months
* Other parallel therapy methods (e.g. acupuncture, qigong, osteopathy)
* Somatic (sleep-disrupting) treatments, cortisone treatment, or radio-/chemotherapy in the last 6 months

Where it's running

• University Hospital of Zurich
  Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Sarah Schiebler, MBA, MD
• Email: sarah.schiebler@usz.ch
• Phone: 0041 44 255 52 80

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Photobiomodulation for chronic pain and fatigue in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

  This pilot observational study tests whether MLS laser photobiomodulation can reduce chronic pain and fatigue in adults with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

  Recruiting Centre Medical ISM (Integrative Systemic Medicine) · Boulogne-Billancourt, Île-de-France Region · NCT07637084

• Are exercise-related symptom flare-ups specific to people with ME/CFS compared with patients who have heart conditions?

  This trial will test whether a standard bicycle exercise test causes post-exertional symptom flare-ups in adults with ME/CFS compared with adults referred for cardiology exercise testing.

  Recruiting Hôpital Européen Marseille · Marseille · NCT07491315

• Sleep problems, fatigue, and thinking ability in people with MS

  We will try to see if sleep problems explain why adults with MS feel very tired and have trouble thinking.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf · Düsseldorf and 1 other locations · NCT07426991

• Understanding how the brain processes unpleasant sensations of pain and effort

  This study is testing how the brains of people with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy volunteers respond to pain and physical effort to better understand their experiences.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · Bethesda, Maryland · NCT06472622

• Testosterone treatment for fatigue in male cancer survivors

  This study is testing if testosterone treatment can help young male cancer survivors who feel tired and have low testosterone levels feel better and improve their overall quality of life.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 2 Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research · Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations · NCT04049331

• Research on the causes of fatigue in cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome

  This study is testing the causes of fatigue in cancer patients and those with chronic fatigue syndrome, while also seeing if probiotics can help reduce their tiredness.

  Recruiting Universität des Saarlandes · Homburg, Saarland · NCT03773003

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.