Chronic illness - a disruption in life: identity-transformation among women with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

To what extent do personal constructs affect the relationship between doctor and patient when the ill patient does not readily recover with treatment? Questionnaires were returned anonymously by 609 patients with a self-reported diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, who were considered chronically ill. Findings were compared with those of an earlier study of a population of 397 general medical patients. The chronically ill patients lost an average of 65 days of work per year due to illness compared to general medical patients who missed six or fewer days per year because they were ill. The chronically ill patients also reported a 66% higher frequency of iatrogenic illness, spent more money on health care, took more medication, saw more specialists, and were more litigious than the general medical population. Research suggested several patterns of relationships between doctors and patients, and attitudes to health and illness, which may alert doctors to patients' perceptions, beliefs, encoded constructs, and patterns of relating that affect responses to treatment. More attention by doctors to patients who are experiencing the stress of chronic illness is indicated.

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Suicidal ideation in non-depressed individuals: The effects of a chronic, misunderstood illness

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105318785450 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (13-14) ◽

pp. 2106-2117 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrew R Devendorf ◽

Stephanie L McManimen ◽

Leonard A Jason

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Chronic Illness ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Suicide Rate ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Loss Of Self

Chronic illness is a risk factor for suicide but is often explained with depression. Research has shown an increased suicide rate in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome, but specific risk factors have been unexplored. We qualitatively analyzed responses from 29 patients who endorsed suicidal ideation but did not meet depression criteria. Two themes were developed: (1) feeling trapped and (2) loss of self, loss of others, stigma and conflict. Myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome caused patients severe disability, restructured their lives, and inflicted serious pain. Participants emphasized that they were not depressed, but felt trapped by the lack of treatments available.

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Workshop/conference report - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) program and Interdisciplinary Research Symposium on Disabling Fatigue in Chronic Illness

Chronic Diseases in Canada ◽

10.24095/hpcdp.29.3.06 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 136-139

Author(s):

E. Stein ◽

M. MacQuarrie

Keyword(s):

Chronic Illness ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Interdisciplinary Research ◽

Conference Report ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

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Positive and Negative Social Support in a Chronic Illness

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1992.71.3.977 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 71 (3) ◽

pp. 977-978 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Colette Ray

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Chronic Illness ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Positive Social Support

A measure of social support was developed and administered to 207 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Positive social support was related to anxiety, and negative social support was related to both anxiety and depression.

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Educational strategies for chronically ill students: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist ◽

10.1017/s081651220002722x ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 5-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Katherine Rowe ◽

Patricia Fitzgerald

Keyword(s):

Chronic Illness ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

Well Being ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Teaching Staff ◽

Educational Strategies ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Returning To School

AbstractChronic illness, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, has a major impact on the sociol, emotional, and educational well-being of the young people affected by it. Many students are either absent from school for prolonged periods or able to attend for only a few classes each week. Students have identified the importance of educational strategies in the management of their illness. If the school or educational setting is functioning appropriately, then social, emotional, developmental, and academic issues associated with chronic illness gradually resolve. A program developed in conjunction with the Victorian Visiting Teacher Service is described. Strategies used to assist housebound students, their carers, teaching staff, and students who are gradually returning to school are outlined.

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