DOES HIGH ACTION-PRONENESS MAKE PEOPLE MORE VULNERABLE TO CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME - A CONTROLLED PSYCHOMETRIC STUDY

Degree of premorbid 'action-proneness' was measured, using a self-admi nistered questionnaire, in 35 patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), all the members of 'ME'-self help groups and all those meeting CDC-criteria of CFS. The results were compared with those of 30 chronic idiopathic musculoskeletal pain patients, 34 patients with a chronic organic condition, and 34 neurotic patients without primary somatic complaints. Statistical analysis showed that CFS patients desc ribed themselves as significantly more 'action-prone' than the last tw o groups, and to a degree which was comparable with the chronic pain g roup. The results could not be explained by concomitant depression and are in accordance with anecdotal reports of premorbid hyperactive lif estyle in CFS patients. Further investigations seem worthwhile to test the hypothesis that hyperactivity might be a predisposing factor for chronic illness behaviour in CFS patients.