SCREENING FOR PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN CHRONIC FATIGUE AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

Citation
D. Buchwald et al., SCREENING FOR PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN CHRONIC FATIGUE AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME, Journal of psychosomatic research, 42(1), 1997, pp. 87-94
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry,Psychiatry
ISSN journal
00223999
Volume
42
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
87 - 94
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3999(1997)42:1<87:SFPICF>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders are common in chronic fatigue (CF) and chronic f atigue syndrome (CFS). To determine the usefulness of the General Heal th Questionnaire (GHQ), a self-report measure of psychological distres s, in identifying those with psychiatric illnesses, a structured psych iatric interview and the GHQ were administered to 120 CF and 161 CFS p atients seen in a referral clinic. Overall, 87 (35%) patients had a cu rrent and 210 (82%) a lifetime psychiatric disorder. Compared to patie nts without psychiatric disorders, GHQ scores above the threshold (gre ater than or equal to 12) were more frequent among patients with curre nt (p<0.001) and lifetime (p<0.05) diagnoses; scores among patients wi th CF and CFS were similar. Longer illness duration, greater fatigue s everity, and current psychiatric disorders were significant predictors of the GHQ score. In CF and CFS, the best sensitivity (0.69-0.76) and specificity (0.51-0.62) were achieved for current psychiatric diagnos es using a threshold score of greater than or equal to 12. Thus, patie nts scoring <12 on the GHQ are significantly less Likely to have a psy chiatric disorder. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.