The Relationship of Fennell Phases to Symptoms among Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Source: Evaluation and the Health Professions, Aug 20, 2009

[Note: the Fennell Phases represent the framework of a chronic illness case-management approach developed by rehabilitation consultant Patricia Fennell. To read more about this approach, visit Fennell’s website. Dr. Jason, a clinical/community psychologist, leads the ME/CFS research team at DePaul University, dedicated to developing ways to help patients in a community health context.]

The Fennell Phase Inventory (FPI) is an instrument designed to measure phases of the illnesses known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The current study explored how the FPI was related to physical and psychological functioning as well as coping style.

Based on FPI scores, 111 adults with ME/CFS were placed in one of three groups: crisis, stabilization, or resolution.

Results showed that the crisis group demonstrated significantly worse functioning than at least one other group for depression, quality of life, mental functioning, anxiety, and self-efficacy; and utilized less adaptive coping styles.

• These results indicate that patients with ME/CFS who are in the crisis phase tend to experience more severe psychological and physical symptoms and utilize poorer coping strategies.

• Those in the resolution phase maintain the most adaptive coping strategies.

Implications for these findings are discussed.

Source: Evaluation and the Health Professions, Aug 20, 2009. PMID: 19696083, by Reynolds NJ, Brown MM, Jason LA. DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. [E-mail: ljason@depaul.edu]