Langvarig utmattelse ved sykdom: forekomst, årsaker, konsekvenser for arbeidsfunksjon og klinisk helsepsykologiske tiltak

Objectives: Physical and mental fatigue is part of the symptom pattern for several diseases that causes adverse impacts on the patient’s daily functioning and quality of life and imposes significant social costs. The objective was first to present an overview of the incidence of and the complex causal mechanisms contributing to prolonged fatigue caused by illness, and then to present documentation of cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches. Methods: We searched the databases Medline, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Embase and Academic Search Elite using terms such as “fatigue”, “cognitive behavioural therapy”, “chronic disease”, “cancer”, other diagnosis-specific terms, and “systematic reviews” as far as May 2024. It was a non-systematic, narrative literature review, with an emphasis on representative meta-analyses that could provide a picture of the state of knowledge. Results: Cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches are proven to have a beneficial effect on fatigue associated with a wide range of diseases. Conclusions: Fatigue is a transdiagnostic symptom across a range of diseases, which offers an opportunity for generic psychological treatment approaches that can be individually tailored. Patients should be assessed for fatigue and, when necessary, be offered specific knowledge and proven strategies for managing fatigue and improving daily functioning. Keywords: fatigue, chronic disease, cancer, cognitive behavioural therapy, clinical health psychology, review