Psychiatric adjustment in adolescents with a history of chronic fatigue syndrome

Objective: To ascertain psychiatric adjustment in youngsters with a history of childhood chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Method: Subjects were 25 children and adolescents with CFS who were seen:in tertiary pediatric/psychiatric clinics (mean age 15.6 years, seen a mean of 45.5 months after illness onset; 17 subjects had recovered and 8 were still ill) and 15 healthy matched controls. Youngsters and their parents (usually mothers) were interviewed and completed questionnaires. Instruments used included the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia:for School-Age Children (K-SADS), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Harter Self-Esteem Questionnaire. Results: At assessment, psychiatric disorders (mainly anxiety and depressive disorders) were present in half the subjects with a history of CFS, a rate significantly higher than in healthy controls. On the CBCL youngsters with a history of CFS had an excess of psychological symptoms and decreased social competence. On the Harter Self-Esteem Questionnaire they reported-reduced self-esteem, especially in social competence. Anxiety disorders were significantly more common in recovered subjects than in those with active CFS illness status. Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders were found to be increased in adolescents with a history of severe CFS; CFS may enhance the risk for or share common predisposing factors with anxiety disorders.