ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE AND ILLNESS BEHAVIOR IN CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

An increasing number of cases of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are be ing seen in medical practices. However, many controversies still surro und the diagnosis, treatment and aetiology of the condition. CFS appea rs to share features of both depressive disorders and chronic physical illnesses. This study compared a group of CFS patients with depressiv es and chronically physically ill patients on measures of depression, illness behaviour and attributional style. The CFS patients were found to be more similar to depressives on measures of depression and illne ss behaviour, but more like chronically physically ill patients on att ributional style. Implications of the findings are examined.