Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants

Age, years

44.9 ± 11.4

39.6 ± 11.5

41.1 ± 11.9

Sex, M/F

15 (30.6)/34 (69.4)

18 (35.3)/33 (64.7)

19 (38.0)/31 (62.0)

Height, cm

162.2 ± 6.8

165.3 ± 8.9

164.4 ± 8.8

Weight, kg

59.8 ± 10.8

63.0 ± 12.5

62.8 ± 12.4

Duration of chronic fatigue

6 months to 1 year

17 (34.7)

13 (25.5)

18 (36.0)

1 year to 5 years

17 (34.7)

23 (45.1)

24 (48.0)

>5 years

15 (30.6)

15 (29.4)

8 (16.0)

Previous treatment

Medication

0 (0.0)

2 (3.9)

0 (0.0)

Oriental medicine treatment

2 (4.1)

4 (7.8)

1 (2.0)

Therapeutic exercise

1 (2.0)

3 (5.9)

0 (0.0)

Psychotherapy

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

Other treatment

6 (12.2)

4 (7.8)

5 (10.0)

Chronic fatigue syndrome, M/F

3 (6.1)/18 (36.7)

6 (11.8)/17 (33.3)

6 (12.0)/13 (26.0)

Education >12 years

28 (57.1)

39 (76.5)

35 (70.0)

Job

36 (73.5)

39 (76.5)

40 (80.0)

Marriage

38 (77.6)

32 (62.7)

37 (74.0)

Irregular meals

18 (36.7)

18 (35.3)

19 (38.0)

Exercise

Yes

29 (59.2)

24 (47.1)

23 (46.0)

Weekly average frequency

3.4 ± 2.0

2.8 ± 1.5

3.4 ± 1.6

Average time per session, h

1.2 ± 0.9

1.4 ± 0.6

1.1 ± 0.5

Tobacco use

8 (16.3)

10 (19.6)

8 (16.0)

Alcohol use

23 (46.9)

21 (41.2)

21 (42.0)

Treatment expectancy

6.9 ± 1.5

6.1 ± 1.4

4.5 ± 2.4

Yes (6 to 9)

40 (81.6)

37 (72.5)

18 (36.0)

No (1 to 5)

9 (18.4)

14 (27.5)

32 (64.0)