AIMS: To assess the relation between fatigue and somatic symptoms in healthy adolescents and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME). METHODS: Seventy two adolescents with CFS were compared within a cross-sectional study design with 167 healthy controls. Fatigue and somatic complaints were measured using self-report questionnaires, respectively the subscale subjective fatigue of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-20) and the Children's Somatization Inventory. RESULTS: Healthy adolescents reported the same somatic symptoms as adolescents with CFS/ME, but with a lower score of severity. The top 10 somatic complaints were the same: low energy, headache, heaviness in arms/legs, dizziness, sore muscles, hot/cold spells, weakness in body parts, pain in joints, nausea/upset stomach, back pain. There was a clear positive relation between log somatic symptoms and fatigue (linear regression coefficient: 0.041 points log somatic complaints per score point fatigue, 95% CI 0.033 to 0.049) which did not depend on disease status. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a continuum with a gradual transition from fatigue with associated symptoms in healthy adolescents to the symptom complex of CFS/ME.
AIMS: To assess the relation between fatigue and somatic symptoms in healthy adolescents and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME). METHODS: Seventy two adolescents with CFS were compared within a cross-sectional study design with 167 healthy controls. Fatigue and somatic complaints were measured using self-report questionnaires, respectively the subscale subjective fatigue of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-20) and the Children's Somatization Inventory. RESULTS: Healthy adolescents reported the same somatic symptoms as adolescents with CFS/ME, but with a lower score of severity. The top 10 somatic complaints were the same: low energy, headache, heaviness in arms/legs, dizziness, sore muscles, hot/cold spells, weakness in body parts, pain in joints, nausea/upset stomach, back pain. There was a clear positive relation between log somatic symptoms and fatigue (linear regression coefficient: 0.041 points log somatic complaints per score point fatigue, 95% CI 0.033 to 0.049) which did not depend on disease status. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a continuum with a gradual transition from fatigue with associated symptoms in healthy adolescents to the symptom complex of CFS/ME.
Authors: Jon Stone; Wojtek Wojcik; Daniel Durrance; Alan Carson; Steff Lewis; Lesley MacKenzie; Charles P Warlow; Michael Sharpe Journal: BMJ Date: 2002-12-21
Authors: M C Sharpe; L C Archard; J E Banatvala; L K Borysiewicz; A W Clare; A David; R H Edwards; K E Hawton; H P Lambert; R J Lane Journal: J R Soc Med Date: 1991-02 Impact factor: 18.000
Authors: H Susan J Picavet; Ulrike Gehring; Amanda van Haselen; Gerard H Koppelman; Elise M van de Putte; Sarah Vader; J Hans C van der Wouden; Ruben J H Schmits; Henriette A Smit; Alet Wijga Journal: Eur J Pain Date: 2021-01-29 Impact factor: 3.931