Wessely and his colleagues, using randomised controlled trials and follow-up studies,[REF] developed a rehabilitation strategy for patients that involved cognitive behavioural and graded exercise therapy, that is effective in reducing symptoms of CFS (a condition that otherwise lacks a cure or unequivocally successful treatment) in ambulant (non-severely affected) patients [REF].
Commenting on a now-retracted science paper that stated XMRV virus was found in two thirds of CFS patients, Wessely said this research fails to model the role childhood abuse, psychological factors, and other infections may play in the illness [REF].