Graded exercise therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective and unsafe. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review

Health Psychol Open. 2018 Oct 8;5(2):2055102918805187. doi: 10.1177/2055102918805187. eCollection 2018 Jul-Dec.

Abstract

The analysis of the 2017 Cochrane review reveals flaws, which means that contrary to its findings, there is no evidence that graded exercise therapy is effective. Because of the failure to report harms adequately in the trials covered by the review, it cannot be said that graded exercise therapy is safe. The analysis of the objective outcomes in the trials provides sufficient evidence to conclude that graded exercise therapy is an ineffective treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Keywords: Cochrane review; chronic fatigue syndrome; graded exercise therapy; myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Publication types

  • Review