Not what it seems to be: Depression versus periodic limb movement disorder

Abstract:

Sleep disorders often disturb sleep. Daytime symptoms of disturb sleep mimic that of depression, somatoform disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. We are presenting a case of depression who was not responding to antidepressant therapy. Based on clinical history, diagnosis was changed to chronic fatigue syndrome and in view of prominent sleep disturbances, polysomnography was done. Based on sleep study data, diagnosis of periodic limb movement disorder was made and he was started on ropinirole, that improved his symptoms.

Source: Gupta R, Kundu K, Khayyam K, Saini LK. Not what it seems to be: Depression versus periodic limb movement disorder. Indian J Psychiatry. 2020 Jul-Aug;62(4):437-439. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_450_19. Epub 2020 Jul 27. PMID: 33165358; PMCID: PMC7597704. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33165358/

Associations of physical and psychiatric conditions with chronic fatigue syndrome in Germany: an exploratory case-control study

Abstract:

Background: Only a few studies have analyzed the effects of physical and psychiatric conditions on the risk of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Therefore, the goal of this exploratory case-control study was to investigate the associations of physical and psychiatric conditions with CFS in almost 19 800 adults from Germany.

Methods: This study included patients diagnosed for the first time with CFS in one of 1238 general practices in Germany between 2010 and 2017 (index date). Controls without CFS were matched (1:1) to cases with CFS by sex, age, index year, and practice. Physical and psychiatric conditions diagnosed in the year prior to the index date were included if they were present in at least 3% of patients with CFS. Associations between physical and psychiatric conditions (33 potential independent variables) and CFS (dependent variable) were analyzed in an adjusted conditional logistic regression model, and physical and psychiatric disorders were included in the model using forward stepwise selection.

Results: This study included 9896 cases with CFS and 9896 controls without CFS [65.1% women; mean (standard deviation) age 49.5 (18.3) years]. Seven conditions were associated with CFS in the adjusted regression model. The disorders displaying the strongest relationship with CFS were cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 2.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.24-2.95], sleep disorders (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.66-2.12) and depression (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.61-1.95).

Conclusions: Cancer, sleep disorders, and depression were strongly and positively associated with CFS. Additional studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these relationships.

Source: Jacob L, Haro JM, Kostev K. Associations of physical and psychiatric conditions with chronic fatigue syndrome in Germany: an exploratory case-control study [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 20]. Psychol Med. 2020;1-7. doi:10.1017/S0033291720002470 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32686638/

An Adrenalectomy Mouse Model Reflecting Clinical Features for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is one of the most intractable diseases and is characterized by severe central fatigue that impairs even daily activity. To date, the pathophysiological mechanisms are uncertain and no therapies exist. Therefore, a proper animal model reflecting the clinical features of CFS is urgently required.

We compared two CFS animal models most commonly used, by injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS from Escherichia coli O111:B4) or polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), along with bilateral adrenalectomy (ADX) as another possible model. Both LPS- and poly I:C-injected mice dominantly showed depressive behaviors, while ADX led to fatigue-like performances with high pain sensitivity.

In brain tissues, LPS injection notably activated microglia and the 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)1A receptor in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Poly I:C-injection also remarkably activated the 5-HT transporter and 5-HT1A receptor with a reduction in serotonin levels in the brain. ADX particularly activated astrocytes and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) 1 in all brain regions.

Our results revealed that LPS and poly I:C animal models approximate depressive disorder more closely than CFS. We suggest that ADX is a possible method for establishing a mouse model of CFS reflecting clinical features, especially in neuroendocrine system.

Source: Lee JS, Jeon YJ, Park SY, Son CG. An Adrenalectomy Mouse Model Reflecting Clinical Features for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Biomolecules. 2020 Jan 1;10(1). pii: E71. doi: 10.3390/biom10010071. https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/1/71 (Full article)

Relationship satisfaction, communication self-efficacy, and chronic fatigue syndrome-related fatigue

Abstract:

RATIONALE: Relationship dissatisfaction has been linked with worse health outcomes in many patient populations, though the mechanism(s) underlying this effect are unclear. Among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and their partners, there is evidence for a bi-directional association between poorer relationship satisfaction and the severity of CFS-related fatigue.

OBJECTIVE: Here, we hypothesized that relationship dissatisfaction negatively impacts fatigue severity through greater depression and less patient satisfaction about communication about symptoms to partners.

METHOD: Baseline data were drawn from diagnosed CFS patients (N = 150) participating in a trial testing the efficacy of a stress management intervention. Data derived from fatigue severity (Fatigue Symptom Index, FSI), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Survey-Depression, CES-D), relationship quality (Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS) and communication satisfaction (Patient Symptom Disclosure Satisfaction, PSDS) questionnaires were used for bootstrapped indirect effect analyses using parallel mediation structural equation modeling in Mplus (v8). Age and BMI were entered as covariates.

RESULTS: Greater relationship satisfaction predicted greater communication satisfaction (p < 0.01) and lower CES-D scores (p < 0.01), which in turn were each significantly related to greater fatigue severity (p < 0.05). Tests of the indirect paths indicated that relationship satisfaction had a significant effect on fatigue severity through both constructs, but primarily via depression. There was no direct association between relationship satisfaction and fatigue severity after the intermediate variables (depression, communication satisfaction) were included in the model.

CONCLUSION: Results highlight the importance of considering depression and communication-related factors when examining the effects of relationship satisfaction on CFS symptoms such as fatigue. Further mechanism-based, longitudinal research might identify relationship-related mediating variables that can be targeted therapeutically.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Source: Milrad SF, Hall DL, Jutagir DR, Lattie EG, Czaja SJ, Perdomo DM, Ironson G, Doss BD, Mendez A, Fletcher MA, Klimas N, Antoni MH. Relationship satisfaction, communication self-efficacy, and chronic fatigue syndrome-related fatigue. Soc Sci Med. 2019 Jul 16;237:112392. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112392. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31377502

Factors associated with work status in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Work status in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has not been extensively researched.

AIMS: To explore occupational outcomes in patients with CFS by socio-demographic, well-being and disease characteristics.

METHODS: We assessed cross-sectional data from patients attending a UK specialist CFS treatment service between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2014. The main outcome was self-reported current employment status: currently in employment, temporarily interrupted employment or permanently interrupted employment. Other variables included sex, age, ethnicity, education, marital status, CFS duration, fatigue severity, anxiety, depression, activity limitations and functional impairment. We used multinominal logistic regression models to identify factors associated with current work status.

RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy-nine (55%) patients were currently working, with 83 (16%) reporting temporarily interrupted employment and 146 (29%) stopping work altogether. Factors strongly associated with permanently interrupted employment were older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.24; 95% CI 2.67-10.28), poorer functioning (AOR 6.41; 95% CI 3.65-11.24) and depressive symptoms (AOR 2.89; 95% CI 1.82-4.58) compared to patients currently working. Higher educated patients (AOR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37-0.97) and being in a relationship (AOR 0.34; 95% CI 0.21-0.54) were associated with being currently employed. Anxiety symptoms were common; 230 patients (45%) met caseness criteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with CFS were not working. This was exacerbated by high levels of depressive symptoms. Health professionals should assess co-morbid mental health conditions and consider treatment options when patients with CFS present themselves. The early involvement of occupational health practitioners is recommended to maximize the chances of maintaining employment.

© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Source: Stevelink SAM, Fear NT, Hotopf M, Chalder T. Factors associated with work status in chronic fatigue syndrome. Occup Med (Lond). 2019 Aug 3. pii: kqz108. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqz108. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31375832

Artificial intelligence based discovery of the association between depression and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Both of the modern medicine and the traditional Chinese medicine classify depressive disorder (DD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to one type of disease. Unveiling the association between depressive and the fatigue diseases provides a great opportunity to bridge the modern medicine with the traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODS: In this work, 295 general participants were recruited to complete Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales and Chalder Fatigue Scales, and meanwhile, to donate plasma and urine samples for 1H NMR-metabolic profiling. Artificial intelligence methods was used to analysis the underlying association between DD and CFS. Principal components analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to analyze the metabolic profiles with respect to gender and age. Variable importance in projection and t-test were employed in conjunction with the PLS-DA models to identify the metabolite biomarkers. Considering the asymmetry and complexity of the data, convolutional neural networks (CNN) model, an artificial intelligence method, was built to analyze the data characteristics between each groups.

RESULTS: The results showed the gender- and age-related differences for the candidate biomarkers of the DD and the CFS diseases, and indicated the same and different biomarkers of the two diseases. PCA analysis for the data characteristics reflected that DD and CFS was separated completely in plasma metabolite. However, DD and CFS was merged into one group.

LIMITATION: Lack of transcriptomic analysis limits the understanding of the association of the DD and the CFS diseases on gene level.

CONCLUSION: The unmasked candidate biomarkers provide reliable evidence to explore the commonality and differences of the depressive and the fatigue diseases, and thereby, bridge over the traditional Chinese medicine with the modern medicine.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Source: Zhang F, Wu C, Jia C, Gao K, Wang J, Zhao H, Wang W, Chen J. Artificial intelligence based discovery of the association between depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. J Affect Disord. 2019 Mar 8;250:380-390. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.03.011. [Epub ahead of print]

Silicone breast implants and depression, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome in a rheumatology clinic population

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Silicone breast implants (SBI) may induce systemic autoimmune disease as part of autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). This syndrome bears similarities to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We sought to determine whether there are any associations between SBI and depression, fibromyalgia and CFS in a rheumatology clinic population.

METHODS: The electronic files of rheumatology clinic patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital between 2000 and 2017 were searched for patients who had received SBI prior to rheumatological diagnosis. Demographics, diagnosis, implant history and whether the patient had depression, fibromyalgia or CFS were recorded. Controls were rheumatology clinic patients, half of whom had systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the other half had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They were matched to cases 3:1 for age (within 2 years) and gender.

RESULTS: Thirty patients had received SBI (mean age 47.9, 100% female). Twelve had a diagnosis of depression, 6 of fibromyalgia and 3 of CFS. Implant rupture was not associated with any of these (p = 1). There was no difference in the incidence of depression (p = 1), fibromyalgia (p = 0.76) or CFS (p = 0.3) between cases and SLE controls. When compared with SSc controls, there were significantly more patients with fibromyalgia and/or CFS in the case group (20.0% of cases vs 2.2% of SSc controls, p = 0.01) but no difference in depression (p = 0.12).

CONCLUSION: Fibromyalgia and CFS are more common in patients with silicone implants than SSc controls but not SLE controls. Prospective study of development of depression, fibromyalgia and CFS in recipients of SBI is required.

Source: Khoo T, Proudman S, Limaye V. Silicone breast implants and depression, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome in a rheumatology clinic population. Clin Rheumatol. 2019 Jan 31. doi: 10.1007/s10067-019-04447-y. [Epub ahead of print] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30706290

Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Abstract:

Prior research has found a heightened risk of suicide in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is possible that a number of factors including stigma, unsupportive social interactions, and severe symptoms could lead to the development of depression, suicidal ideation, and heightened risk of suicide in this patient population. Prior studies have indicated that patients often report the legitimacy of their illness being questioned by family, friends, and even their physicians.

This study aimed to determine whether stigma experienced, social support, symptomology, and functioning may be associated with depression and endorsement of suicidal ideation (SI) in patients with a self-reported diagnosis of ME or CFS. Findings indicated that participants that endorsed both SI and depression, in contrast to those that did not, experienced more frequent unsupportive social interactions in the form of blame for their illness, minimization of its severity, and social distancing from others.

In addition, 7.1% of patients with ME and CFS endorsed SI but do not meet the criteria for clinical depression These findings highlight the importance of stigma and unsupportive social interactions as risk factors for suicidal thoughts or actions among patients with ME and CFS. Community psychologists have an important role to play in helping educate health care professionals and the public to these types of risk factors for patients marginalized by ME and CFS.

Source: McManimen SL, McClellan D, Stoothoff J, Jason LA. Effects of unsupportive social interactions, stigma, and symptoms on patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. J Community Psychol. 2018 Nov;46(8):959-971. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21984. Epub 2018 May 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30311972

SEID diagnostic criteria applied on an adolescent cohort: evaluation of subgroup differences and prognostic utility

Systemic exertion intolerance disease diagnostic criteria applied on an adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome cohort: evaluation of subgroup differences and prognostic utility

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Existing case definitions for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) all have disputed validity. The present study investigates differences between adolescent patients with CFS who satisfy the systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) diagnostic criteria (SEID-positive) and those who do not satisfy the criteria (SEID-negative).

METHODS: 120 adolescent patients with CFS with a mean age of 15.4 years (range 12-18 years) included in the NorCAPITAL project (ClinicalTrials ID: NCT01040429) were post-hoc subgrouped according to the SEID criteria based on a comprehensive questionnaire. The two subgroups were compared across baseline characteristics, as well as a wide range of cardiovascular, inflammatory, infectious, neuroendocrine and cognitive variables. Data from 30-week follow-up were used to investigate prognostic differences between SEID-positive and SEID-negative patients.

RESULTS: A total of 45 patients with CFS were SEID-positive, 69 were SEID-negative and 6 could not be classified. Despite the fact that clinically depressed patients were excluded in the NorCAPITAL project, the SEID-positive group had significantly higher score on symptoms suggesting a mood disorder (Mood and Feelings Questionnaire): 23.2 vs 13.4, difference 9.19 (95% CI 5.78 to 12.6). No other baseline characteristics showed any group differences. When accounting for multiple comparisons, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding cardiovascular, inflammatory, infectious, neuroendocrine and cognitive variables. Steps per day and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire at week 30 showed no differences between the groups.

CONCLUSION: The findings question the discriminant and prognostic validity of the SEID diagnostic criteria in adolescent CFS, and suggest that the criteria tend to select patients with depressive symptoms.

Source: Asprusten TT, Sulheim D, Fagermoen E, Winger A, Skovlund E, Wyller VB. Systemic exertion intolerance disease diagnostic criteria applied on an adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome cohort: evaluation of subgroup differences and prognostic utility. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2018 Mar 16;2(1):e000233. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2017-000233. eCollection 2018.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5887832/ (Full article)

Negative Affectivity, Depression, and Resting Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as Possible Moderators of Endogenous Pain Modulation in Functional Somatic Syndromes

Abstract:

Background: Several studies have shown that patients with functional somatic syndromes (FSS) have, on average, deficient endogenous pain modulation (EPM), as well as elevated levels of negative affectivity (NA) and high comorbidity with depression and reduced resting heart rate variability (HRV) compared to healthy controls (HC). The goals of this study were (1) to replicate these findings and (2) to investigate the moderating role of NA, depression, and resting HRV in EPM efficiency within a patient group with fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Resting HRV was quantified as the root mean square of successive differences between inter-beat intervals (RMSSD) in rest, a vagally mediated time domain measure of HRV.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with fibromyalgia and/or CFS and 33 HC completed a counter-irritation paradigm as a measure of EPM efficiency. Participants rated the painfulness of electrocutaneous stimuli (of individually calibrated intensity) on the ankle before (baseline phase), during (counter-irritation phase) and after (recovery phase) the application of a cold pain stimulus on the forearm. A larger reduction in pain in the counter-irritation phase compared to the baseline phase reflects a more efficient EPM.

Results: In contrast to our expectations, there was no difference between pain ratings in the baseline compared to counter-irritation phase for both patients and HC. Therefore, reliable conclusions on the moderating effect of NA, depression, and RMSSD could not be made. Surprisingly, patients reported more pain in the recovery compared to the counter-irritation and baseline phase, while HC did not. This latter effect was more pronounced in patients with comorbid depression, patients who rated the painfulness of the counter-irritation stimulus as high and patients who rated the painfulness of the electrocutaneous stimuli as low. We did not manage to successfully replicate the counter-irritation effect in HC or FSS patients. Therefore, no valid conclusions on the association between RMSSD, depression, NA and EPM efficiency can be drawn from this study. Possible reasons for the lack of the counter-irritation effect are discussed.

Source: Van Den Houte M, Van Oudenhove L, Van Diest I, Bogaerts K, Persoons P, De Bie J, Van den Bergh O. Negative Affectivity, Depression, and Resting Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as Possible Moderators of Endogenous Pain Modulation in Functional Somatic Syndromes. Front Psychol. 2018 Mar 6;9:275. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00275. eCollection 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5845717/ (Full article)