(22-12-06) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Tied to Stress and Childhood Trauma

Two new studies suggest that traumatic events in childhood, as well as
stress at any period in life, has been associated with the development of
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
In one study, researchers compared the physical and mental health of 43 CFS patients with 60 healthy individuals.
Among the many assessments, both groups were questioned about five kinds of trauma they experienced in childhood. CFS patients had higher trauma scores than those without it.
Exposure to traumatic events multiplied a patient's risk of succumbing to
CFS as much as eightfold. CFS patients were also more likely to have
psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic
stress disorder.
A second study evaluated the incidence of CFS among some 19,000 Swedish twins (some 1,600 patients suffered from it). In two of the analyses performed, emotional instability and stress were connected to CFS. And, in one comparing a CFS patient to his or her twin without it, a stressful
life increased a person's risk of the disease by 500 percent.

CFS affects between 400,000 and 900,000 U.S. adults, and is characterized
by unexplained fatigue that lasts for at least six months, fails to get
better with rest, and interferes with daily activities. It is also
accompanied by at least some of the following additional symptoms: extreme fatigue after exertion, difficulties with memory and concentration,unrefreshing sleep, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, sore throat, ortender lymph nodes.

Source: EurekAlert November
Archives of General Psychology

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