This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Taylor, R. R. Articles by Curie, C. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Taylor, R. R. Articles by Curie, C. J. Related Collections Other Epidemiology Somatoform

Prognosis of Chronic Fatigue in a Community-Based Sample

From the Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL.

Address reprint requests to: Dr. Leonard Jason, Department of Psychology, DePaul University, 2219 North Kenmore Ave., Chicago, IL 60614. Email: ljason{at}wppost.depaul.edu

OBJECTIVE: This study examined predictors of fatigue severity and predictors of continued chronic fatigue status at wave 2 follow-up within a random, community-based sample of individuals previously evaluated in a wave 1 prevalence study of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome that originally took place between 1995 and 1997.

METHODS: Wave 1 data were from a larger community-based prevalence study of chronic fatigue syndrome. In the present study, a second wave of data were collected by randomly selecting a sample of participants from the wave 1 sample of 18,675 adults and readministering a telephone screening questionnaire designed to assess symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

RESULTS: Findings revealed that wave 1 fatigue severity was a predictor of fatigue severity at wave 2 in the overall sample of individuals with and without chronic fatigue. In the smaller sample of individuals with chronic fatigue, wave 1 fatigue severity, worsening of fatigue with physical exertion, and feeling worse for 24 hours or more after exercise significantly predicted continued chronic fatigue status (vs. improvement) at wave 2 follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the prognostic validity of postexertional malaise in predicting long-term chronic fatigue and also highlight the importance of using population-based, representative random samples when attempting to identify long-term predictors of chronic fatigue at follow-up.

Key Words: epidemiology, • chronic fatigue, • chronic fatigue syndrome, • prognosis, • follow-up.

Abbreviations: CF = chronic fatigue;; CFS = chronic fatigue syndrome;; GHQ = General Health Questionnaire;; ROC = receiver operating characteristic.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. A. Mossberg, B. E. Masel, C. R. Gilkison, and R. J. Urban Aerobic Capacity and Growth Hormone Deficiency after Traumatic Brain Injury J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2008; 93(7): 2581 - 2587. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. T Hamilton, A. M Gallagher, J. M Thomas, and P. D White The prognosis of different fatigue diagnostic labels: a longitudinal survey Fam. Pract., August 1, 2005; 22(4): 383 - 388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J H Huibers, I J. Kant, J A. Knottnerus, G. Bleijenberg, G. M H Swaen, and S. V Kasl Development of the chronic fatigue syndrome in severely fatigued employees: predictors of outcome in the Maastricht cohort study J Epidemiol Community Health, October 1, 2004; 58(10): 877 - 882. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. B. Schmaling, J. I. Fiedelak, W. J. Katon, J. O. Bader, and D. S. Buchwald Prospective Study of the Prognosis of Unexplained Chronic Fatigue in a Clinic-Based Cohort Psychosom Med, November 1, 2003; 65(6): 1047 - 1054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]