Article

Cognitive behavioural therapy does not reduce fatigue in post-polio
syndrome, but is effective in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy. This difference in
efficacy might be explained by a different role of cognitions in these conditions. OBJECTIVE:
To compare fatigue-related cognitions between patients
with post-polio syndrome and facio-scapulohumeral dystrophy. SUBJECTS: Patients
with post-polio syndrome (n = 21) and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (n = 24)
allocated to a cognitive behavioural therapy intervention in 2 identical trials.
METHODS: Assessed cognitions included: sense of control over fatigue;
catastrophizing; acceptance; focusing on fatigue; and perceived social support.
Group differences in cognitions (independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests) and
group differences in the association of cognitions with fatigue (linear
regression models) were studied. RESULTS: No differences in cognitions were found
between the 2 groups (p > 0.18). Furthermore, there were no cognition-by-group
interaction effects, except for "perceived social support", for which a different
association with fatigue was found between the 2 groups (p = 0.01). However,
univariate models revealed no associations per group. CONCLUSION: Fatigue-related
cognitions in severely fatigued patients with post-polio syndrome are not clearly
different from that in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy. Thus, the lack of efficacy
of cognitive behavioural therapy in post-polio syndrome cannot be attributed to
unique cognitive characteristics of this population.

Langue : ANGLAIS