A minimal intervention, based on cognitive–behavioural therapy for chronic
fatigue syndrome and consisting of self-instructions combined with email
contact, was tested in a randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN27293439). A
total of 171 patients participated in the trial: 85 were allocated to the
intervention condition and 86 to the waiting-list condition. All patients
met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for chronic
fatigue syndrome. An intention-to-treat analysis showed a significant
decrease in fatigue and disability after self-instruction. The level of
disability was negatively correlated with treatment outcome. Guided
self-instructions are an effective treatment for patients with relatively
less severe chronic fatigue syndrome.