Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Fatigue
RCT	66 people with CFS (Oxford criteria) In review	Mean change in Chalder Fatigue Score 12 weeks –8.4 with graded exercise therapy –3.1 with control intervention (flexibility and relaxation training)	P = 0.004	Effect size not calculated	graded exercise therapy
RCT 4-armed trial	136 people with CFS (Oxford criteria) In review	Proportion of people with Chalder Fatigue Score <4 26 weeks 12/67 (18%) with graded exercise therapy, with or without fluoxetine 4/69 (6%) with general advice, with or without fluoxetine	RR 3.10 95% CI 1.05 to 9.10 NNT 9 95% CI 5 to 91	Moderate effect size	graded exercise therapy
RCT	61 people with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Mean change in Chalder Fatigue Score for physical fatigue (8 items for physical fatigue [0–8]) 12 weeks 3.5 with graded exercise therapy 1.8 with control intervention (flexibility and relaxation training)	P = 0.07		Not significant
RCT	22 adolescents with CFS (Fuduka critera) In review	Fatigue severity (on Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS]) change from baseline to 4 weeks –0.42 with graded exercise therapy –0.12 with control intervention (progressive resistance training)	P = 0.16		Not significant
RCT 4-armed trial	641 adults with CFS (Oxford criteria)	Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire 52 weeks 20.6 with graded exercise therapy 23.8 with specialist medical care	Mean difference –3.2 95% CI –4.8 to –1.7 P = 0.0003	Effect size not calculated	graded exercise therapy
Mental fatigue
RCT	61 people with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Mean change in Chalder Fatigue Score for mental fatigue (6 items for mental fatigue [0–6]) 12 weeks 1.8 with graded exercise therapy 0.8 with control intervention (flexibility and relaxation training)	P = 0.02	Effect size not calculated	graded exercise therapy