Tag: phobias

The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Iceland – a national comparison by gender drawing on four different criteria

Erratum in: The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Iceland–a national comparison by gender drawing on four different criteria. [Nord J Psychiatry. 2006]

 

Abstract:

The study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Iceland. No previous prevalence studies known to us have been undertaken in Iceland or in Scandinavia. A 95-item custom-made questionnaire was sent to 4000 randomly selected people. The response rate was 63%. The questionnaire was constructed to include questions on all the items found in the four most common criteria for diagnosing CFS; the criteria being Australian, British and American.

Results show very different prevalences according to the criteria used. The prevalence ranged from 0 to 4.9%, with the most established criteria yielding a prevalence of 1.4%. Re-test validity of the questionnaire was good, the following results are based on the selection criteria by Fukuda et al. (Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I, Sharpe MC, Dobbins JG, Komaroff A, et al. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. Ann Int Med 1994;121:953-9).

Women were in a majority (78%); their mean age was 44, they were fully employed and worked long hours. They believed that the onset of their symptoms was stress related. The type of work was unskilled in the majority of cases. A significant proportion of the males felt a constant buzzing in their ears (P < 0.05). Food suppliants were used daily by significantly more women than men (P < 0.01). Men had more frequently phobic symptoms (P < 0.001) than did women. Differences were found in the prevalence of phobia and panic (P < 0.001) between women in the CFS group compared to healthy ones. A positive correlation was found in the prevalence of phobia between women in the CFS group and those with Iceland Disease.

Comment in: The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Iceland–a national comparison by gender drawing on four different criteria. [Nord J Psychiatry. 2006]

 

Source: Líndal E, Stefánsson JG, Bergmann S. The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Iceland – a national comparison by gender drawing on four different criteria. Nord J Psychiatry. 2002;56(4):273-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12470318

 

Anxiety disorders: a result of long-term chronic fatigue–the psychiatric characteristics of the sufferers of Iceland disease

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: In order to clarify the lifetime likelihood of developing psychiatric disorder following the Akureyri disease, we have investigated 55 well documented cases of the Akureyri disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: All participants were interviewed and diagnosed as to psychiatric disorders according to DSM-III.

RESULTS: Of the 55 subjects included in this analysis 53 were women. The mean age of the participants was 67.7 years. The most common problem was agoraphobia with panic attacks 12.7% (P < 0.0001); agoraphobia without panic attacks 21.8% (P < 0.0001); social phobia 14.5% (P < 0.001); simple phobia 18.1% (P < 0.05); schizophrenia 3.6% (P < 0.01); and alcohol dependence 5.4% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Prolonged chronic fatigue most commonly results in anxiety disorders. Following the infection, the more serious psychiatric disorders do not seem to play a major role in the long run.

 

Source: Líndal E, Bergmann S, Thorlacius S, Stefánsson JG. Anxiety disorders: a result of long-term chronic fatigue–the psychiatric characteristics of the sufferers of Iceland disease. Acta Neurol Scand. 1997 Sep;96(3):158-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9300068

 

The chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) including myalgic encephalomyelitis and the postviral syndrome is a term used today to describe a not fully recognized disease characterized primarily by chronic or recurrent debilitating fatigue and various combinations of neuromuscular and neuropsychological symptoms. The term CFS has been introduced and defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in medicine, but CFS as defined by CDC has appeared to be quite rare in the general population. Researchers have suggested that the syndrome is a heterogenous immunologic disorder that follows viral infection, but despite numerous studies on the subject the etiologic factor of the syndrome is unknown. CFS is a controversial diagnosis. In a very high percentage of patients with the CFS depression, phobias or anxiety disorders have frequently preceded the onset of the chronic fatigue. There are many overlapping symptoms between CFS and major depression. Some clinicians suggest that it is not obvious that CFS can be distinguished from neurasthenia.

 

Source: Białyszewski A. [The chronic fatigue syndrome]. Psychiatr Pol. 1993 Nov-Dec;27(6):601-11 [Article in Polish] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8134494