psychological. The findings would have had more impact had the
diagnosis of ME/CFS been confirmed by a physician and other possible
causes ruled out. The use of the term operationally defined suggests
either the Oxford definition or the Reeves definition was used.
Premorbid risk markers for chronic fatigue syndrome in the 1958
British birth cohort.
Br J Psychiatry. 2011 Aug 18;
Authors: Clark C, Goodwin L, Stansfeld SA, Hotopf M, White PD
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the aetiology of chronic fatigue
syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME); prospective studies
suggest a role for premorbid mood disorder. AIMS: To examine childhood
and early adult adversity, ill health and physical activity as
premorbid risk markers for CFS/ME by 42 years, taking psychopathology
into account.
METHOD: Data were from the 1958 British birth cohort, a prospective
study from birth to 42 years (n = 11 419). The outcomes were
self-reported CFS/ME (n = 127) and operationally defined CFS-like
illness (n = 241) at 42 years.
RESULTS: Adjusting for psychopathology, parental physical abuse (odds
ratio (OR) = 2.10, 95% CI 1.16-3.81), childhood gastrointestinal
symptoms (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.00-2.50) and parental reports of many
colds (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.09-2.50) were independently associated with
self-reported CFS/ME. Female gender and premorbid psychopathology were
the only risk markers for CFS-like illness, independent of comorbid
psychopathology.
CONCLUSIONS: This confirms the importance of premorbid psychopathology
in the aetiological pathways of CFS/ME, and replicates retrospective
findings that childhood adversity may play a role in a minority.
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