18th February 2011

This morning, the Lancet published online the initial results of the PACE trial, a randomised controlled trial to compare four therapies for treating M.E./CFS. The results are surprising and disappointing.

The PACE trial was a £4.2 million study, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Scottish Chief Scientist Office.

The therapies tested were cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (GET), adaptive pacing therapy (APT) and specialised medical care (treatment of symptoms eg. pain relief, without additional therapy). PACE stands for Pacing, graded Activity and Cognitive behaviour therapy – a randomised Evaluation.

Participants were referred from six specialist hospital CFS/M.E. clinics in Edinburgh, Oxford, Bristol and London.

Results
Action for M.E. is surprised and disappointed by the results of the PACE trial – and by some of the exaggerated claims being made about the effectiveness of two of the therapies: cognitive behaviour therapy and graded exercise, and by the unqualified assertion about the general safety of graded exercise.

Click here to read ACFME's full comments.

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First Published Febuary 2011

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