Differential effects of childhood trauma subtypes on fatigue and physical functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome

ObjectiveThere is a large consensus concerning the important aetiological role of childhood trauma in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In the current study, we examine the differential effect of childhood trauma subtypes on fatigue and physical functioning in patients with CFS.MethodsOne hundred and fifty-five participants receiving treatment at the outpatient clinic for CFS of the Antwerp University Hospital in Belgium were included in this study. Stepwise regression analyses were conducted with the outcomes of the total score of the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) measuring fatigue and the physical functioning subscale of the medical outcomes short form-36 health status survey (SF-36) as the dependent variables, and the scores on the five Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC) subscales as the independent variables.ResultsFatigue and physical functioning scores in CFS patients were significantly predicted by sexual harassment only. A significant effect of emotional neglect, emotional abuse and bodily threat during childhood on elevated fatigue or reduced physical functioning levels could not be found.ConclusionThere is a differential effect of childhood trauma subtypes on fatigue and physical functioning in CFS patients. Sexual harassment emerged as the most important predictor variable. Therefore, childhood (sexual) trauma has to be taken into account in assessment and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Differential Effect of Childhood Trauma Subtypes on Fatigue and Physical Functioning in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

10.26226/morressier.5885d719d462b8028d89292b ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Maud De Venter

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Differential Effect ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Childhood trauma and risk for chronic fatigue syndrome: association with neuroendocrine dysfunction.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1157939.618008 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Salvatore Benvenga

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Syndrome Association

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Rethinking childhood adversity in chronic fatigue syndrome

10.7287/peerj.preprints.1571v1 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

James E Clark ◽

Sean Davidson ◽

Laura Maclachlan ◽

Megan Lynn ◽

Julia L Newton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire ◽

History Of Childhood ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

History Of

Objectives: Previous studies have consistently shown increased rates of childhood adversity in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, such aetiopathogenic studies of CFS are potentially confounded by co-morbidity and misdiagnosis particularly with depression. We used a modelling approach with existing data and data generated in our examination of the rates of childhood adversity in a sample of CFS patients who had no lifetime history of depression. Methods: The childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) was completed by a sample of 52 participants and 19 controls with chronic fatigue syndrome who did not meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder (confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV). Subsequently, Mediation Analysis (Baye’s Rules) was used to establish the risk childhood adversity poses for CFS with and without depression. Results: In a cohort of CFS patients with depression robustly excluded, CTQ scores were markedly lower than in all previous studies and, in contrast to these previous studies, not increased compared with healthy controls. Post-hoc analysis showed that CTQ scores correlated with the number of depressive symptoms during the lifetime worst period of low mood. The probability of developing CFS given a history of childhood trauma was shown to be 4%, a two-fold increased risk compared to the general population. However, much of this risk is mediated by the concomitant development of major depression. Discussion: The data suggests that previous studies showing a relationship between childhood adversity and CFS may be mediated by depression

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Assessing functioning in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: psychometric properties and factor structure of the School and Social Adjustment Scale and the Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF36

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465820000193 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 546-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.E. Loades ◽

S. Vitoratou ◽

K.A. Rimes ◽

T. Chalder

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Social Adjustment ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Factor Solution ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Functioning Subscale ◽

Physical Functioning Subscale ◽

Social Adjustment Scale

AbstractBackground:Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has a major impact on functioning. However, no validated measures of functioning for this population exist.Aims:We aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the 5-item School and Social Adjustment Scale (SSAS) and the 10-item Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF-36 in adolescents with CFS.Method:Measures were completed by adolescents with CFS (n = 121).Results:For the Physical Functioning Subscale, a 2-factor solution provided a close fit to the data. Internal consistency was satisfactory. For the SSAS, a 1-factor solution provided an adequate fit to the data. The internal consistency was satisfactory. Inter-item and item-total correlations did not indicate any problematic items and functioning scores were moderately correlated with other measures of disability, providing evidence of construct validity.Conclusion:Both measures were found to be reliable and valid and provide brief measures for assessing these important outcomes. The Physical Functioning Subscale can be used as two subscales in adolescents with CFS.

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Assessing chronic fatigue syndrome: Self-reported physical functioning and correlations with physical testing

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies ◽

10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.03.006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 598-603

Author(s):

Jan b Eyskens ◽

Jela Illegems ◽

Luc De Nil ◽

Jo Nijs ◽

Jarl K. Kampen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Physical Testing

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Childhood Trauma and Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Archives of General Psychiatry ◽

10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2008.508 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 72 ◽

Cited By ~ 167

Author(s):

Christine Heim ◽

Urs M. Nater ◽

Elizabeth Maloney ◽

Roumiana Boneva ◽

James F. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

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Cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: A case-control study nested within a cohort

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1359104519835583 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 564-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Maria Elizabeth Loades ◽

Katharine Rimes ◽

Kate Lievesley ◽

Sheila Ali ◽

Trudie Chalder

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Perfect Match ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Case Control ◽

Behavioural Responses ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Control Study

Background: What adolescents think about symptoms and what they do in response could contribute to fatigue maintenance. We compared the cognitive and behavioural responses of adolescents and their parents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS; N = 121) and asthma ( N = 27) and explored the predictive value of these variables on fatigue and functioning in CFS. Method: Consecutively referred adolescents with CFS were recruited. Questionnaires, completed by adolescents and parents, assessed fatigue, functioning, mood and cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms. Age-matched adolescents with asthma completed the same questionnaires. Adolescents with CFS completed questionnaires again approximately 3 months later. Results: Adolescents with CFS scored higher on all unhelpful cognitive and behavioural subscales than adolescents with asthma. Parents’ cognitions about their child’s symptoms were associated with adolescent’s own cognitions. Unhelpful cognitive and behavioural responses, particularly, damage beliefs, predicted subsequent fatigue in CFS, and all-or-nothing behaviour, catastrophising and damage beliefs predicted subsequent physical functioning. Conclusion: Unhelpful cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms appear to be particularly prominent in adolescents with CFS. There is some consistency but not a perfect match between cognitive and behavioural responses to symptoms reported by adolescents and their parents. These responses could be contributing to fatigue maintenance and disability.

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Cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: outcomes from a specialist clinic in the UK

Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine ◽

10.1177/0141076820951545 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 113 (10) ◽

pp. 394-402

Author(s):

James Adamson ◽

Sheila Ali ◽

Alastair Santhouse ◽

Simon Wessely ◽

Trudie Chalder

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽

Social Adjustment ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

The Uk

Objectives Cognitive behavioural therapy is commonly used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome and has been shown to be effective for reducing fatigue and improving physical functioning. Most of the evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome is from randomised control trials, but there are only a few studies in naturalistic treatment settings. Our aim was to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in a naturalistic setting and examine what factors, if any, predicted outcome. Design Using linear mixed effects analysis, we analysed patients' self-reported symptomology over the course of treatment and at three-month follow-up. Furthermore, we explored what baseline factors were associated with improvement at follow-up. Setting Data were available for 995 patients receiving cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome at an outpatient clinic in the UK. Participants Participants were referred consecutively to a specialist unit for chronic fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome. Main outcome measures Patients were assessed throughout their treatment using self-report measures including the Chalder Fatigue Scale, 36-item Short Form Health Survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Global Improvement and Satisfaction. Results Patients’ fatigue, physical functioning and social adjustment scores significantly improved over the duration of treatment with medium to large effect sizes (|d| = 0.45–0.91). Furthermore, 85% of patients self-reported that they felt an improvement in their fatigue at follow-up and 90% were satisfied with their treatment. None of the regression models convincingly predicted improvement in outcomes with the best model being (R2 = 0.137). Conclusions Patients’ fatigue, physical functioning and social adjustment all significantly improved following cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in a naturalistic outpatient setting. These findings support the growing evidence from previous randomised control trials and suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy could be an effective treatment in routine treatment settings.

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