Psychopathology in chronic fatigue syndrome: a general population study after the risk factors for co-morbid depression and anxiety in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Teertstra, F. (Froukje) (2013) Psychopathology in chronic fatigue syndrome: a general population study after the risk factors for co-morbid depression and anxiety in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. thesis, Medicine.

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Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) suffer from severe, medically unexplained fatigue which results in a substantial reduction of daily life activities. Its aetiology remains subject of debate. Many studies suggested that psychopathology has an important role in the aetiology of CFS and that psychopathology increases the level of disability experienced by these patients. Prevalence rates of psychopathology found in CFS differ between studies and it is not clear why certain CFS patients suffer from psychopathology and others do not. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was higher in CFS patients than in the general population. A second aim was to identify risk factors for MDD or GAD in CFS. Methods: Data from the current LifeLines sample were used for this study. The sample consisted of 55837 adults between 18 and 89 years of age. In this large general population sample, the prevalence rates of CFS, MDD and GAD were determined. Prevalence rates of MDD and GAD were also determined in the CFS subsample (n=729). Binary logistic regression models were used to examine whether being female, low educational level, being unfit for work, high degree of myalgia, life time depression and life time anxiety disorder were risk factors for current MDD or GAD in lifetime CFS. Results: The point prevalence of MDD was 14.4% in the CFS subsample and 4.1% in the general population. Prevalence rates of current GAD were 18.8% and 2.2% in the CFS subsample and the general population respectively. Myalgia (odds ratio (OR) 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-1.84) and life time anxiety (OR 4.00; CI 2.29-6.99) were demonstrated to be risk factors for MDD in CFS patients. Myalgia (OR 1.50; CI 1.27-1.78) and life time depression (OR 4.22; CI 2.73-6.51) predicted GAD in CFS patients. Being female, having low level of education and being unfit for work did not predict any of the outcomes. Conclusion: MDD and GAD have higher prevalence rates in CFS patients compared to the general population. Severe myalgia is a risk factor for both MDD and GAD in CFS. Lifetime anxiety is a risk factor for MDD in CFS and lifetime depression for GAD.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Rosmalen, Prof. Dr. J.G.M. and Janssens, Dr. K.A.M.
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:54
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:54
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1517

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