PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Behavior problems and family functioning were investigated in a sample of 10 adolescent girls with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 10 matche d healthy adolescent girls, and 10 adolescents with childhood cancer i n remission. Based on the adolescent girls' reports, the CFS group had significantly higher scores than the cancer and healthy comparison ad olescent girls on somatic complaints and also significantly higher sco res than the cancer controls on internalizing symptoms and depression. Parent reports resulted in significantly higher scores in the CFS gro up than the adolescent girls from the healthy comparison groups on int ernalizing scores and somatic complaints. There were no significant di fferences on any family variables.