A COMPARISON OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CHARACTERISTICS IN CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME, MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS, AND MAJOR DEPRESSION

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a controversial clinical entity charac terized by severe fatigue and constitutional symptoms, has been associ ated with a variety of psychiatric disorders. To further understand th e psychiatric profile of CFS, the authors compared patients with CFS, multiple sclerosis (MS), and major depression by using diagnostic inte rviews and self-report measures of Axis I disorders and personality di sorders. CFS patients differed from patients with major depression, wi th significantly less depression and fewer personality disorders. Comp ared with MS patients, CFS patients did not differ with regard to pers onality disorders. However, they did have significantly more frequent current depression than MS patients, particularly following onset of t heir illness.