Tag: adolescents

Psychosocial correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescent girls

Abstract:

Behavior problems and family functioning were investigated in a sample of 10 adolescent girls with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 10 matched healthy adolescent girls, and 10 adolescents with childhood cancer in remission.

Based on the adolescent girls’ reports, the CFS group had significantly higher scores than the cancer and healthy comparison adolescent girls on somatic complaints and also significantly higher scores than the cancer controls on internalizing symptoms and depression. Parent reports resulted in significantly higher scores in the CFS group than the adolescent girls from the healthy comparison groups on internalizing scores and somatic complaints. There were no significant differences on any family variables.

 

Source: Pelcovitz D, Septimus A, Friedman SB, Krilov LR, Mandel F, Kaplan S. Psychosocial correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescent girls. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1995 Oct;16(5):333-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8557833

 

Is neurally mediated hypotension an unrecognised cause of chronic fatigue?

Abstract:

Neurally mediated hypotension is now recognised as a common cause of otherwise unexplained recurrent syncope, but has not been reported in association with chronic fatigue. We describe seven consecutive non-syncopal adolescents with chronic post-exertional fatigue, four of whom satisfied strict criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Upright tilt-table testing induced significant hypotension in all seven (median systolic blood pressure 65 mm Hg, range 37-75), consistent with the physiology of neurally mediated hypotension. Four had prompt improvement in their chronic fatigue when treated with atenolol or disopyramide. These observations suggest an overlap in the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and neurally mediated hypotension.

Comment in:

Is neurally mediated hypotension an unrecognised cause of chronic fatigue? [Lancet. 1995]

Is neurally mediated hypotension an unrecognised cause of chronic fatigue? [Lancet. 1995]

Is neurally mediated hypotension an unrecognised cause of chronic fatigue? [Lancet. 1995]

 

Source: Rowe PC, Bou-Holaigah I, Kan JS, Calkins H. Is neurally mediated hypotension an unrecognised cause of chronic fatigue? Lancet. 1995 Mar 11;345(8950):623-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7898182

 

Chronic fatigue: a peculiar evolution of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome following treatment with L-tryptophan in four Italian adolescents

Abstract:

We describe four Italian adolescents in whom a persistent, debilitating fatigue appeared after therapeutic ingestion of products containing L-tryptophan and subsequent to the development of a transient rise in eosinophil count and severe myalgia (Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome-EMS). Their clinical picture was indistinguishable from that of the so-called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A chronic fatigue may occur after diverse triggering agents and its represents the peculiar clinical evolution of these four paediatric cases of EMS.

 

Source: Priori R, Conti F, Luan FL, Arpino C, Valesini G. Chronic fatigue: a peculiar evolution of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome following treatment with L-tryptophan in four Italian adolescents. Eur J Pediatr. 1994 May;153(5):344-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8033924

 

Psychosocial management of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescence

Abstract:

The state of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as abnormal illness behaviour or as biologically determined disease is undecided. The ensuing, often public, debate has confused the community and has led to sharp differences in the therapeutic approach to individual patients. These challenges are compounded when the patient is an adolescent and intergenerational issues enter the picture. Two adolescent cases with different outcomes are presented and the principles of a rehabilitation approach to treatment are outlined which attempt to avoid being drawn into unproductive debates about aetiology.

Comment in: Chronic fatigue syndrome. [Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1992]

 

Source: Rikard-Bell CJ, Waters BG. Psychosocial management of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescence. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1992 Mar;26(1):64-72. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1580887

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia in Adolescence

Abstract:

A complaint of persistent, debilitating fatigue in an adolescent, accompanied by symptoms that meet the recently adopted criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), presents a difficult challenge for the clinician. This article describes the diagnostic criteria for CFS and fibromyalgia, and discusses the epidemiology, etiology, and management of these conditions.

 

Source: Kulig JW. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia in Adolescence. Adolesc Med. 1991 Oct;2(3):473-484. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10350771

 

Chronic fatigue in adolescents

Abstract:

Nine female and 6 male adolescents (mean age 14.5 +/- 1.7 [SD] years) were evaluated for chronic fatigue associated with at least three additional symptoms present for 18.4 +/- 8.4 months. Eleven subjects experienced the onset of symptoms with an acute illness (seven Monospot-positive). Medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing yielded little helpful information. Serologic testing for Coxsackie B viruses 1 through 6, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6, and Toxoplasma gondii in subjects and healthy controls provided little evidence for an infectious cause of persistent fatigue.

Children’s Depression Inventory scores and psychiatric interviews with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Children’s Version (K-SADS) identified five subjects with major depression. On the K-SADS, the 10 fatigued subjects without major depression endorsed many secondary symptoms of depression but were less likely than depressed psychiatric clinic patients to endorse primary symptoms such as depressed mood, guilt, and suicidality. At telephone follow-up 13 to 32 months after intake, 4 subjects were completely well, 4 markedly improved, and 7 unimproved or worse.

Further research is necessary to determine whether chronic fatigue in adolescents is prodromal depression, a discrete psychosomatic condition, or an infectious or immunologic disorder that mimics depression.

Comment in:

Chronic fatigue in children: illness or disease? [Pediatrics. 1993]

Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome: an epidemic? [Pediatrics. 1992]

Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome: an epidemic? [Pediatrics. 1992]

Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome: an epidemic? [Pediatrics. 1992]

 

Source: Smith MS, Mitchell J, Corey L, Gold D, McCauley EA, Glover D, Tenover FC. Chronic fatigue in adolescents. Pediatrics. 1991 Aug;88(2):195-202. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1861915

 

Depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the adolescent

Abstract:

To summarize, CFS and depression present very real problems for adolescent patients, their families, and their physicians. The wealth of symptoms presented may signal the presence of any number of psychiatric or physiologic disorders. As part of the evaluation to rule out other maladies, the physician must identify the developmental issues and life stress events with which patients or their families are struggling. Helping patients to accept psychiatric referral to address these issues is indicated if it is thought that they may be contributing to the onset or maintenance of the symptoms. Referral is also indicated if a protracted clinical course evolves and the patient’s normal course of growth and development appears to be in jeopardy.

 

Source: Strickland MC. Depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the adolescent. Prim Care. 1991 Jun;18(2):259-70. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1876612