forums and in research papers as have some of the scales used. While
it is correct that standardized, validated scales make a difference
the question may be whether the scales in this case are valid for all
subgroups and ME and CFS definitions.
The mind/body view of medicine is that stress is a fundamental
component of life. It is an unconscious response to a demand and when
the demand is perceived as excessive, stress results along with
diseases and conditions. But, does stress directly cause disease?
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has given importance to the relationship
between stress and its physiological effects on the body. Scientists
in this growing field have discovered that stress modulates the
activities of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.
Psychiatry Res. 2011 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Cumulative life stress in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Nater UM, Maloney E, Heim C, Reeves WC.
Chronic Viral Diseases Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens
and Pathology (proposed), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic
Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention,
Atlanta, GA, USA; Clinical Biopsychology, Dept. of Psychology,
University of Marburg, Germany.
Abstract
We studied the impact of cumulative life stress on CFS in a
population-based study. We found that exposure to stressors was
significantly more common in persons with CFS compared to NF controls;
those with CFS reported experiencing significantly higher levels of
psychological distress.
Also, post-traumatic stress disorder was significantly more common in
people with CFS. These results not only corroborate findings from
other studies but, importantly, extend those by:
a) measuring a comprehensive spectrum of stress variables,
b) for the first time presenting data on stress in a population-based
study, thus minimizing the effects of recruitment bias, and
c) diagnosing CFS by means of standardized, validated scales, thus
allowing replication and extension of our findings.
Stress may be an important factor in the pathophysiology of CFS.
Consequently, future studies should provide a more detailed
understanding of the processes that lead from stress to CFS using
longitudinal designs.
Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
---------------------------------------------
Send posts to CO-CURE@listserv.nodak.edu
Unsubscribe at http://www.co-cure.org/unsub.htm
Co-Cure Archives: http://listserv.nodak.edu/archives/co-cure.html
---------------------------------------------
Co-Cure's purpose is to provide information from across the spectrum of
opinion concerning medical, research and political aspects of ME/CFS and/or
FMS. We take no position on the validity of any specific scientific or
political opinion expressed in Co-Cure posts, and we urge readers to
research the various opinions available before assuming any one
interpretation is definitive. The Co-Cure website <www.co-cure.org> has a
link to our complete archive of posts as well as articles of central
importance to the issues of our community.
---------------------------------------------
