Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Volume 12, Issue 3, 2004

Titles and abstracts for the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2004.

Volume 12, Issue 3, 2004

• Editorial by Kenny De Meirleir & Neil McGregor
• Major Depressive Disorder in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A CDC Surveillance Study

  "Abstract - Background: Controversy continues to exist as to whether Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a psychological/psychiatric disorder. To further understand this condition the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a Surveillance Study. The CDC partitioned 565 subjects with fatiguing illnesses into four diagnostic groups, one of which met the 1988 CDC criteria for CFS. The non-CFS groups had either insufficient severity (idiopathic), medical exclusions or prior psychiatric disorders. Objectives: The present study reports on the psychiatric features in that study, estimates the time of onset of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and looks for possible relationships between 1988 CDC criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and psychiatric disorders. Methods: The study design is cross-sectional. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) assessed for four Axis I psychiatric disorders. Time of onset of MDD was estimated from the DIS and validated by an examination of the medical records. Odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated as tests of association between 1988 CDC criteria and psychiatric disorders. Results: Subjects classified as CFS and non-CFS had similar rates of psychiatric disorders. A minority of subjects had preexisting MDD. Three 1988 CDC criteria were associated with current MDD whilst no criteria were associated with prior MDD. Conclusions: CFS subjects did not demonstrate any unique patterns of psychiatric disorders. MDD may not be an important predisposing factor for CFS or the other fatiguing illnesses. Some 1988 CDC criteria may be preferentially endorsed by subjects with current MDD."

• Membrane Damaging Toxins from Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus Are Associated with Self-Reported Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  "Abstract - Objective: To assess whether there is any association between membrane damaging toxin production by Staphylococcus spp. and self-reported TMD symptom expression in a group of patients selected to have CFS. Methods: Thirty-three defined Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients and 33 age- and sex-matched controls were assessed to evaluate the relationship between carriage of membrane damaging toxin producing Staphylococcus, CFS and temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) symptoms. Results: The CFS patients had an increased prevalence of face pain (Odds Ratio = 21.0, 95% CL 4.2-106, P < .001) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) clicking/locking (OR = 5.7, 95% CL 1.4- 23.5, P < .007), and the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus maximum % βtoxin haemolysis per patient. Both multivariate and univariate analyses revealed an association between the membrane damaging δtoxin producing CoNS (MDT-CoNS) species per subject and face pain prevalence and intensity within both the CFS patients and the control subjects. No association was found between CoNS toxin production and TMJ clicking/locking. Importantly, α- and βtoxin production by CoNS was associated with patient reporting of arthritis. Conclusions: These data confirm the original observations of the association between MDT-CoNS and facial muscle pain (Butt et al., 1998; McGregor et al., 2003). These data also suggest that MDT-CoNS associated facial muscle pain expression represents a distinct clinical entity, which has an increased prevalence in CFS patients."

• Association Between Oxidative Damage Markers and Self-Reported Temporomandibular Dysfunction Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

  "Abstract - Full blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), haematinics and markers for oxidative stress were measured on thirty-three patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and twenty-seven age and sex matched controls. The CFS patients had increased prevalence of symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Jaw muscle pain was associated with increases in methaemoglobin (P < .002), ferritin (P < .02) and malondialdehyde (P < .007) whilst temporomandibular joint (TMJ) clicking and/or locking was associated with increases in methaemoglobin (P < .001), malondialdehyde (P < .05) and vitamin B12 (P < .02) levels. Multiple regression analysis found methaemoglobin to be the principle component associated with TMD symptoms in the CFS patients. Increases in scalar severity responses to jaw muscle pain and TMJ clicking and/or locking were positively correlated with methaemoglobin by multiple regression. These data indicate that oxidative stress due to excess free radical formation was associated with jaw muscle pain in CFS patients and suggest that these symptoms were likely to be associated with a pathogen-associated aetiology."

• The Influence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on the Personality Profile: A Case Report

  "Abstract - Objective: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) functionally impairs many patients. Despite numerous studies and reviews in CFS, little is known about the behavioral consequences. Several researchers have already suggested the influential role of personality as a possible predisposing or perpetuating factor. Method: A case study is presented of a 34-year-old man with a history of CFS. Psychological profiling using the MMPI-2 was performed during the course of his condition. Results: His passive-aggressive manner during the medical encounter was underscored by his personality profile (code type 3-2). After his recovery, however, a spike 3 profile emerged indicating a fulfilled individual. Somatic items included in the inventory, created a secondary increase of the clinical scales. Physical complaints diminished as his condition improved and subsequently, decreased the clinical scales. Conclusion: The relevance of classifying personality characteristics in CFS patients as traits could not be supported by this case report."

• Review Article - Long-Term Effectiveness of Pool Exercise Therapy and Education in Patients with Fibromyalgia

"Abstract - 1. POOL EXERCISE COMBINED WITH AN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME. A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED STUDY.Mannerkorpi K, Nyberg B, Ahlmen M, Ekdahl C. JRheumatol2000; 27:2473-81.

2. SIX- AND 24-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OF POOL EXERCISE THERAPY AND EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA. Mannerkorpi K, Ahlmen M, Ekdahl C. Scand J Rheumatol 2002; 31:306-10."

See also

• Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for other Issues