Well-being in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of acceptance.

OBJECTIVE Research in chronic pain patients has shown that accepting the chronic nature of their illness is positively related to quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether acceptance is also associated with better well-being in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS Ninety-seven patients completed a battery of questionnaires measuring fatigue, functional impairment, psychological distress, and acceptance. RESULTS Results indicated that acceptance has a positive effect upon fatigue and psychological aspects of well-being. More specifically, acceptance was related to more emotional stability and less psychological distress, beyond the effects of demographic variables, and fatigue severity. CONCLUSION We suggest that promoting acceptance in patients with CFS may often be more beneficial than trying to control largely uncontrollable symptoms.