Chronic fatigue syndrome: A qualitative investigation of patients' beliefs about the illness

Clements, Alison; Sharpe, Michael; Simkin, Sue; Borrill, Jo; Hawton, Keith

doi:10.1016/s0022-3999(97)00087-1

Cited by 74 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In addition, the present study found no specific thought and attention problems, normal achievement motivation, and elevated positive and reduced negative fear of failure, reflecting an adaptive way of coping with stressful circumstances. Several of these findings contradict previous studies that do report social isolation, 7,10,13,15 attention and concentration problems, 2,10,20,25 and high achievement motivation and perfectionism. 1,5,8 Although the patients in this study did report concentration problems in the semi-structured interview, when asked about their symptoms, they did not report significantly heightened thought and attention problems on the emotional and behavioral problems scale.…”

Section: Psychosocial Functioning and Distresscontrasting

confidence: 88%

Psychological Adjustment of Adolescent Girls With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

et al. 2001

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ABSTRACT. Objective. To examine psychosocial problems and adaptation of adolescent girls with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).Methodology. Thirty-six adolescent girls with CFS (mean age: 15.2 years; mean syndrome duration: 19.7 months) who fulfilled the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were examined by interviews regarding premorbid problems and by questionnaires regarding psychosocial functioning and distress, psychological attitudes, and coping resources. Data were compared with normative data.Results. Of the adolescents, 86.1% reported 1 or more premorbid problems (58.3% physical, 38.9% psychological, and 52.8% familial). Normal adjustment was reported for psychosocial self-esteem, social abilities, and attentional abilities. High adjustment to adult social standards of behavior was found, but low perceived competence in specific adolescent domains, such as athletic ability, romance, and participation in recreational activities. The girls reported predominantly internalizing problems. Normal achievement motivation, no debilitating fear of failure, and high internal locus of control were observed. Palliative reaction patterns and optimism were predominantly used as coping strategies.Conclusions. The large number of premorbid problems suggests a possible contributing factor to the onset of the syndrome, although there were no reference data of healthy adolescents. In distinct domains of psychosocial adjustment, the adolescent girls with CFS showed strengths such as adequate self-esteem and scholastic and social abilities, and weaknesses such as low competence in adolescent-specific tasks and internalizing distress, which may partly be explained by syndrome-specific somatic complaints. The use of optimistic and palliative reaction patterns as coping strategies in this patient group indicates that the patients with CFS seem to retain an active and positive outlook on life, which may result in a rather adequate psychological adaptation to the syndrome, but also in maintenance of the syndrome by exceeding the physical limits brought about by the CFS. Our results on adjustment and coping strategies may be helpful to implement (individual) rehabilitation programs. Pediatrics 2001;107(3). URL: http://www. pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/107/3/e35; chronic fatigue syndrome, adolescents, female, psychological adjustment, coping behavior.

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Section: Psychosocial Functioning and Distresscontrasting

confidence: 88%

Psychological Adjustment of Adolescent Girls With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

et al. 2001

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“…Previous qualitative research in the area of CFS/ME has focused on participants' beliefs about the cause of their illness and symptomatology (Clements, Sharpe, Simkin, & Borrill, 1997;Ray et al, 1998), coping behaviours (Ware, 1999) and life changes due to the condition (Tuck & Wallace, 2000;Asbring & Naervaenen, 2002). However, the factors that influence how individuals with CFS/ME perceive their symptoms have not been investigated from a phenomenological epistemology, therefore this will be the framework of the present study.…”

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confidence: 99%

Individuals’ experience of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Arroll

Senior

2008

Psychology & Health

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a condition of unknown aetiology that consists of symptoms such as fatigue, muscle and joint pain, gastric problems and a range of neurological disturbances. Due to the fact that these symptoms are complaints that most individuals will experience to a varying degree, it seems pertinent to investigate the processes by which those with CFS/ME conceptualise their symptoms and the experience of reaching a diagnosis. Participants were recruited from local CFS/ME support groups. Eight semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted and transcribed and the verbatim transcriptions were analysed according to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six distinct themes were uncovered that illustrated the participants' experience and perception of their symptoms. These included symptomatology and illness course, interference with daily and working life, frequency of symptoms, external information, diagnosis and treatment. The findings were discussed in terms of internal and external cues related to symptom perception and the discovery that the possession of a diagnosis did not necessarily signify the end of the journey.

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“…One theory is that certain predisposing or maintaining vulnerabilities might be more prevalent in women than in men, including reproductive correlates [9,10] or stress-associated immune modulation [10]. Patients have pointed to the impact of stress and activity [11,12]. From our own research, we know that patients have knowledge that can contribute to a broader understanding of medically unexplained disorders, including the underlying mechanisms of the conditions [4,13].…”

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confidence: 99%