Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Fatigue severity
RCT 3-armed trial	278 adults with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Improvement in fatigue severity (Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-fatigue]) 8 months 27/83 (33%) with CBT 10/80 (13%) with guided support	RR 2.6 for CBT v guided support 95% CI 1.3 to 5.0 RCT had high withdrawal rate; see Further information on studies for full details	Moderate effect size	CBT
RCT 3-armed trial	278 adults with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Improvement in fatigue severity (self-reported) 8 months 42/74 (57%) with CBT 12/71 (17%) with guided support	RR 3.4 for CBT v guided support 95% 1.9 to 5.8 RCT had high withdrawal rate; see Further information on studies for full details	Moderate effect size	CBT
RCT 3-armed trial	278 adults with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Improvement in fatigue severity (CIS-fatigue) 8 months 27/83 (33%) with CBT 8/62 (13%) with no intervention	RR 2.5 for CBT v no intervention 95% CI 1.2 to 5.2 RCT had high withdrawal rate; see Further information on studies for full details	Moderate effect size	CBT
RCT 3-armed trial	278 adults with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Improvement in fatigue severity (self-reported) 8 months 42/74 (57%) with CBT 23/78 (30%) with no intervention	RR 1.9 for CBT v no intervention 95% CI 1.3 to 2.9 RCT had high withdrawal rate; see Further information on studies for full details	Small effect size	CBT
RCT 3-armed trial	153 adults with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Change in fatigue severity (Chalder Fatigue Score) with group CBT with usual care Absolute results not reported	Difference –2.61 for group CBT v usual care 95% CI –4.92 to –0.30 P = 0.03	Effect size not calculated	CBT
RCT 3-armed trial	153 adults with CFS, CDC criteria In review	Change in fatigue severity (Chalder Fatigue Score) with group CBT with education and support Absolute results not reported	Difference –3.16 for group CBT v education and support 95% CI –5.59 to –0.74 P = 0.011	Effect size not calculated	CBT
RCT 4-armed trial	90 adults with a mean age of 39.6 years who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for CFS (not further defined) In review	Mean fatigue score (profile of mood states subscale) 7 months (3 months after completion of treatment) 16.8 with CBT plus placebo 17.3 with usual care plus placebo	Significance not assessed
RCT 4-armed trial	114 adults with CFS (as defined by CDC criteria); baseline fatigue severity scale (FSS) scores 6.05 in people having CBT, 5.82 in people having relaxation therapy In review	Mean score on FSS 12 months 5.37 with CBT 5.62 with relaxation therapy	Significance not assessed
RCT	69 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years with CFS (CDC criteria)	Change in fatigue severity score (Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-fatigue]) 5 months –22.3 with CBT –7.6 with no intervention	Absolute difference 14.5 95% CI 7.4 to 21.6	Effect size not calculated	CBT
RCT	63 adolescents aged 11–18 years with CFS (CDC or Oxford criteria) In review	Mean fatigue score (Chalder Fatigue Scale) 6 months post treatment 13.3 with family-focused CBT 14.2 with psycho-education	Treatment effect +0.24 95% CI –3.61 to +4.10 P = 0.9		Not significant
RCT	131 adolescents aged 12–18 years with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Fatigue severity (CIS-20) 6 months 24.0 with internet CBT 42.3 with usual care	Mean difference –18.3 95% CI –22.9 to –13.7 P <0.0001	Effect size not calculated	CBT
RCT 4-armed trial	641 adults with CFS (Oxford criteria)	Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire 24 weeks 21.5 with CBT 24.0 with specialist medical care	Significance not assessed
RCT 4-armed trial	641 adults with CFS (Oxford criteria)	Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire 52 weeks 20.3 with CBT 23.8 with specialist medical care	Mean difference –3.4 95% CI –5.0 to –1.8 P = 0.0001	Effect size not calculated	CBT