Suicide

A 2016 study by the Center for Community Research, DePaul University, compared the mortality in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome to the mortality rates of the general population in the United States. Four categories for death were examined in detail: all causes combined, suicide, cardiovascular-related and cancer. In this study sample of 56 patients, the most frequent cause of death, as reported by caregivers, was suicide, occurring among 26.8% of patients. When examining suicide rates they found the suicide rate was higher in male ME/CFS patients than females (53.33% male and 46.67% female), which was the only cause of death in this study to display this pattern. Although the mean age of death in individuals with ME and CFS is at a younger age compared to the overall population, only the rate of all causes combined and cardiovascular-related mortality reached statistical significance.

A 2015 Spanish study founded an increased risk of suicide in ME/CFS patients, 12.75% compared to 2.3% in the general Spanish population. This study is believed to be the first that pointed to external factors, such as, inadequate medical treatment and loss of job and relationships, instead of depression as the motivation for suicide.

Quotes

 * 2016 - "Ultimately the best way to prevent suicide in ME/CFS will be to find effective disease-modifying treatments or cures for it."