Chronic fatigue syndrome: Harvey and Wessely's (bio)psychosocial model versus a bio(psychosocial) model based on inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways

Here the hypothesis is advanced that maladaptive mechanisms that prevent recovery in some intensive care unit (ICU) patients may also underlie Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Specifically, these mechanisms are: (a) suppression of the pituitary gland's pulsatile secretion of tropic hormones, and (b) a “vicious circle” between inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS), and low thyroid hormone function. This hypothesis should be investigated through collaborative research projects.

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Treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a multisystem disease, should target the pathophysiological aberrations (inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways), not the psychosocial “barriers” for a new equilibrium

Patient Education and Counseling ◽

10.1016/j.pec.2010.02.017 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 148-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michael Maes ◽

Frank N.M. Twisk

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Nitrosative Stress ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽

Multisystem Disease ◽

Oxidative And Nitrosative Stress ◽

Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Psychosocial Barriers

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Theory: Treatments for Prolonged ICU Patients May Provide New Therapeutic Avenues for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.672370 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Dominic Stanculescu ◽

Lars Larsson ◽

Jonas Bergquist

Keyword(s):

Critical Illness ◽

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Nitrosative Stress ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽

Metabolic Effects ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Icu Patients ◽

Treatment Trials ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

We here provide an overview of treatment trials for prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) patients and theorize about their relevance for potential treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Specifically, these treatment trials generally target: (a) the correction of suppressed endocrine axes, notably through a “reactivation” of the pituitary gland's pulsatile secretion of tropic hormones, or (b) the interruption of the “vicious circle” between inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS), and low thyroid hormone function. There are significant parallels in the treatment trials for prolonged critical illness and ME/CFS; this is consistent with the hypothesis of an overlap in the mechanisms that prevent recovery in both conditions. Early successes in the simultaneous reactivation of pulsatile pituitary secretions in ICU patients—and the resulting positive metabolic effects—could indicate an avenue for treating ME/CFS. The therapeutic effects of thyroid hormones—including in mitigating O&NS and inflammation and in stimulating the adreno-cortical axis—also merit further studies. Collaborative research projects should further investigate the lessons from treatment trials for prolonged critical illness for solving ME/CFS.

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Nitrosative Stress, Hypernitrosylation, and Autoimmune Responses to Nitrosylated Proteins: New Pathways in Neuroprogressive Disorders Including Depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Molecular Neurobiology ◽

10.1007/s12035-016-9975-2 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 4271-4291 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Gerwyn Morris ◽

Michael Berk ◽

Hans Klein ◽

Ken Walder ◽

Piotr Galecki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽

Nitrosative Stress ◽

Chronic Fatigue ◽

Fatigue Syndrome

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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

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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.

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