Clinical Presentation of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A current problem regarding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is the large proportion of doctors that are either not trained or refuse to recognize ME/CFS as a genuine clinical entity, and as a result do not diagnose it. An additional problem is that most of the clinical and research studies currently available on ME are focused on patients who are ambulant and able to attend clinics and there is very limited data on patients who are very severe (housebound or bedbound), despite the fact that they constitute an estimated 25% of all ME/CFS cases. This author has personal experience of managing and advising on numerous cases of severe paediatric ME, and offers a series of case reports of individual cases as a means of illustrating various points regarding clinical presentation, together with general principles of appropriate management.

Download Full-text

Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)—A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57050418 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (5) ◽

pp. 418

Author(s):

Timothy L. Wong ◽

Danielle J. Weitzer

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Literature Search ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽

Systemic Review ◽

Future Research ◽

Medical Illness ◽

Case Definitions ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Long COVID defines a series of chronic symptoms that patients may experience after resolution of acute COVID-19. Early reports from studies with patients with long COVID suggests a constellation of symptoms with similarities to another chronic medical illness—myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). A review study comparing and contrasting ME/CFS with reported symptoms of long COVID may yield mutualistic insight into the characterization and management of both conditions. Materials and Methods: A systemic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and PsycInfo through to 31 January 2021 for studies related to long COVID symptomatology. The literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA methodology. Results: Twenty-one studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Long COVID symptoms reported by the included studies were compared to a list of ME/CFS symptoms compiled from multiple case definitions. Twenty-five out of 29 known ME/CFS symptoms were reported by at least one selected long COVID study. Conclusions: Early studies into long COVID symptomatology suggest many overlaps with clinical presentation of ME/CFS. The need for monitoring and treatment for patients post-COVID is evident. Advancements and standardization of long COVID research methodologies would improve the quality of future research, and may allow further investigations into the similarities and differences between long COVID and ME/CFS.

Download Full-text

Long- and short-term blood pressure andRR-interval variability and psychosomatic distress in chronic fatigue syndrome: authors’ reply 1

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs19990155 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 97 (3) ◽

pp. 319 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D.A. DUPREZ ◽

M.L. DE BUYZERE ◽

B. DRIEGHE ◽

F. VANHAVERBEKE ◽

Y. TAES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Short Term ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

Download Full-text

Diagnostic Concordance Between Categorical and Dimensional Instruments to Assess Personality Disorder in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000281 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 158-165

Author(s):

Natalia Calvo ◽

Naia Sáez-Francàs ◽

Sergi Valero ◽

Jesús Castro-Marrero ◽

José Alegre Martín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorder ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Personality Assessment ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Specific Pattern ◽

Harm Avoidance ◽

Assessment Instrument ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Self Transcendence

Abstract. The study examines the relationship between a categorical and a dimensional personality assessment instrument in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). A total of 162 CFS patients were included in the study (91.4% women; mean age 47.5 years). All subjects completed the Spanish versions of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+) and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). Results: 78 (48.1%) of the patients presented a Personality Disorder (PD), the most frequent being Cluster C, specifically Obsessive-compulsive disorder, followed by Avoidant disorder. PDs showed a specific pattern of correlation with temperament scales. All PD clusters correlated positively with Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence, and negatively with Reward Dependence, Self-Directedness, and Cooperativeness. In a logistic regression analysis, Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness predicted PD presence. The findings are consistent with previous studies in non-CFS samples and suggest that the combination of the Temperament and Character dimensions (low Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness and high Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence) correlates with PD severity, and that Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness are associated with PD presence in CFS patients. The integration of these two perspectives expands the current comprehension of personality pathology in CFS patients.

Download Full-text