EEG spectral coherence data distinguish chronic fatigue syndrome patients from healthy controls and depressed patients-A case control study

Abstract Objective Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) are among the reliable neurophysiological tools to investigate patients with neuropathic pain, as they can provide an objective account of the functional status of thermo-nociceptive pathways. The goal of this study was to explore the functioning of the nociceptive afferent pathways by examining LEPs in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (cWAD), patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and healthy controls (HCs). Design Case–control study. Setting A single medical center in Belgium. Subjects The LEPs of 21 patients with cWAD, 19 patients with CFS, and 18 HCs were analyzed in this study. Methods All participants received brief nociceptive CO2 laser stimuli applied to the dorsum of the left hand and left foot while brain activity was recorded with a 32-channel electroencephalogram (EEG). LEP signals and transient power modulations were compared between patient groups and HCs. Results No between-group differences were found for stimulus intensity, which was supraliminal for Aδ fibers. The amplitudes and latencies of LEP wave components N1, N2, and P2 in patients with cWAD and CFS were statistically similar to those of HCs. There were no significant differences between the time–frequency maps of EEG oscillation amplitude between HCs and both patient populations. Conclusions EEG responses of heat-sensitive Aδ fibers in patients with cWAD and CFS revealed no significant differences from the responses of HCs. These findings thus do not support a state of generalized central nervous system hyperexcitability in those patients.

Download Full-text

Associations of physical and psychiatric conditions with chronic fatigue syndrome in Germany: an exploratory case-control study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720002470 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Louis Jacob ◽

Josep Maria Haro ◽

Karel Kostev

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Regression Model ◽

Sleep Disorders ◽

Index Date ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Case Control ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Psychiatric Conditions ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background Only a few studies have analyzed the effects of physical and psychiatric conditions on the risk of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Therefore, the goal of this exploratory case-control study was to investigate the associations of physical and psychiatric conditions with CFS in almost 19 800 adults from Germany. Methods This study included patients diagnosed for the first time with CFS in one of 1238 general practices in Germany between 2010 and 2017 (index date). Controls without CFS were matched (1:1) to cases with CFS by sex, age, index year, and practice. Physical and psychiatric conditions diagnosed in the year prior to the index date were included if they were present in at least 3% of patients with CFS. Associations between physical and psychiatric conditions (33 potential independent variables) and CFS (dependent variable) were analyzed in an adjusted conditional logistic regression model, and physical and psychiatric disorders were included in the model using forward stepwise selection. Results This study included 9896 cases with CFS and 9896 controls without CFS [65.1% women; mean (standard deviation) age 49.5 (18.3) years]. Seven conditions were associated with CFS in the adjusted regression model. The disorders displaying the strongest relationship with CFS were cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 2.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.24–2.95], sleep disorders (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.66–2.12) and depression (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.61–1.95). Conclusions Cancer, sleep disorders, and depression were strongly and positively associated with CFS. Additional studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these relationships.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text