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Pilot Study of Alternative Treatments of Unexplained Chronic Fatigue


N/A
21 Years
65 Years
Not Enrolling
Both
Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

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Trial Information

Pilot Study of Alternative Treatments of Unexplained Chronic Fatigue


An objective is to identify certain types of clinicians (or individual physicians) who
appear to have identified effective treatments for patients with UCF, or to find that
clinicians who report themselves to be effective are not. Study subjects will be UCF
patients new to the practice of one of four groups of participating clinicians: 1) a control
group of MDs in practice-based research networks, 2) MDs trained in CAM, 3) naturopathic
doctors (non MDs trained in special naturopathic schools), and 4) MDs who specialize in
chronic fatigue. Our rationale for this comparison is that its successful completion will
potentially guide future searches for effective medical strategies for the treatment of UCF
that may have been developed outside the mainstream medical community. It may also provide
necessary information for follow-up studies that will help to identify specific effective
treatments. This information includes which clinicians provide the best treatments (as
evidenced by having patients with the best results), what are the characteristics of
patients who respond to a particular treatment, how the data collection procedures might
need to be refined and what sample sizes are necessary.


Inclusion Criteria:



1. Age 21 through 65.

2. Has severe debilitating fatigue that substantially reduces the quality of life.

3. Does not have any organic, psychological, or lifestyle problems that are the
primary disorder and are likely to be the cause of this fatigue (see exclusionary
criteria)

4. The severe, unexplained fatigue has persisted for at least six months.

5. Has not been previously treated by current physician for chronic fatigue.

6. Can speak and read English.

7. Is not pregnant or planning to become pregnant within six months.

8. Has a telephone.

Exclusion Criteria:

No known history of:

1. Bipolar disorder

2. Psychosis

3. Major Depressive Disorder

4. Sleep disorder

5. Anemia

6. Thyroid disease

7. Rheumatoid Arthritis

8. Systemic Lupus

9. Cancer

10. Heart disease

11. Liver disease

Type of Study:

Observational

Study Design:

Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective

Outcome Measure:

Differences among four groups of clinicians with respect to patient treatment outcome

Outcome Time Frame:

Six months

Safety Issue:

No

Principal Investigator

Arthur J Hartz, MD, PhD

Investigator Role:

Principal Investigator

Investigator Affiliation:

Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah

Authority:

United States: Institutional Review Board

Study ID:

25988

NCT ID:

NCT00983502

Start Date:

August 2008

Completion Date:

October 2010

Related Keywords:

  • Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  • Idiopathic Chronic Fatigue
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Myalgic encephalomyelitis
  • Encephalomyelitis
  • Fatigue
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic

Name

Location

University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah