Details of randomised patients
Relaxation (n=67)
Exercise (n=69)
Median (interquartile range) age (years)
45 (38-52)
48 (38-56)
Median (interquartile range) duration (years)
4 (3-9)
6.5 (3-10)
Median (interquartile range) education (years)
11 (10-14)
12 (10-14)
Single
33
35
Women
64
62
Currently employed
14
23
Receiving social security benefits
49
40
Taking analgesics
27
27
Taking antidepressants
20
16
Fulfil criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome
48
47
Mean (SD) SF-36 summary z scores
*
:
Mental component
3.9 (1.6)
3.6 (1.3)
Physical component
3.9 (1.1)
3.7 (0.9)
*
Compared with means of UK populations.
3.9 (1.6)