CHRONIC FATIGUE IN THE COMMUNITY - A QUESTION OF ATTRIBUTION

Thirty-eight subjects identified in a large community survey were foun d to attribute their fatigue to 'myalgic encephalomyelitis' (ME). They were matched randomly to two other groups of subjects who attributed their fatigue to either psychological or social factors. All three gro ups were followed up 18 months later and were asked to complete a seri es of questionnaires that examined fatigue, psychological distress, nu mber of symptoms, attributional style and levels of disability. At ons et the 'ME' group were found to be more fatigued, had been tired for l onger but were less psychologically distressed than the other two grou ps. At follow-up the 'ME' group were more handicapped in relation to h ome, work, social and private leisure activities, even when controllin g for both duration of fatigue and fatigue at time 1, but were less ps ychologically distressed. The relationships between psychological dist ress, specific illness attributions, attributional style and their eff ect on the experience of illness and its prognosis are discussed. Attr ibuting fatigue to social reasons appears to be most protective.