Fatigue : Biomedicine, Health and Behavior

Different from fatigue, an instantaneous state of tiredness, weakness and lack of energy, fatigability is a trait that contextualizes whole-body fatigue to the level of activity (i.e., intensity and duration) with which the fatigue is associated. Fatigability can be perceived or performance-related. Measuring fatigability improves upon traditional fatigue measures by accounting for self-pacing as older adults likely slow down or limit their daily activity to maintain fatigue in a tolerable range. Anchoring fatigue to activities/tasks improves sensitivity and allows for meaningful comparisons across individuals/between studies, as well as evaluating change over time and treatment effects...

AIM: Youth who have not recovered from COVID-19 have been referred to as having Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC). The goal of this study was to better understand which symptoms persisted since onset of infection and how these symptoms compare to symptoms experienced by those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). METHOD: A sample of 19 parents who had a child with PASC were recruited using social media to fill out a questionnaire detailing symptoms at two time points...

OBJECTIVE: Sarcoidosis-associated fatigue is a debilitating consequence of sarcoidosis, a multi-system inflammatory disease, and may be related to increased stress associated with sarcoidosis. Breathing awareness meditation has potential as an intervention for managing stress and fatigue for sarcoidosis patients (SPs). This project's aim was to obtain feedback from key informants to design and tailor a patient-centered Sarcoidosis Patient Resource and Companion (SPARC) mHealth App developed for SPs to manage fatigue and stress at home using breathing awareness meditation...

Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) have a unique opportunity to provide resources and support to those suffering from Long COVID (LC), the post infectious illness that often follows an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. In working with these individuals, MHPs can learn from the experiences of patients with another post-infectious disease known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). ME/CFS was once thought to be a psychologically mediated disorder caused by deconditioning and the fear of exertion following a precipitating event such as a viral infection...

BACKGROUND: Firefighters are faced with numerous work-related demands and stressors, including exposure to potentially traumatic events, and are thus at an increased risk for poor mental health outcomes. To better understand the mental health of trauma-exposed firefighters, the current study sought to examine the association of fatigue sensitivity with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptom severity in a cross-sectional study design. METHODS: Participants included 107 ( M age = 40...

Background: Fatigue sensitivity, or the misattribution that fatigue symptoms will lead to negative personal consequences, is one individual difference factor related to adverse behavioral health consequences. Methods: The current study investigated whether fatigue sensitivity was related to panic symptoms, depression, as well as fatigue severity among 166 persons of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds with severe fatigue. Results: As hypothesized, fatigue sensitivity was statistically significantly related to greater panic symptoms, general depression, and fatigue severity...

BACKGROUND: Clinical similarities between chronic fatigue syndrome and idiopathic intracranial hypertension, supported by measurements of intracranial pressure, invite suggestions that they may be connected, the first representing a mild version of the second. Yet, if this is to be the basis for a structural explanation for chronic fatigue syndrome, it already seems incomplete, failing to explain cases where disability seems disproportionate. Is there some other confounding variable? PURPOSE: To refine, in this theoretical paper, an earlier model connecting chronic fatigue syndrome with idiopathic intracranial hypertension to allow for a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak...

BACKGROUND: The combined impact of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and fatigue severity is associated with increased burden and worsened symptoms. Understanding factors that may contribute to and maintain fatigue severity among individuals with CLBP is needed to isolate intervention modalities. METHODS: The current study sought to investigate the role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in terms of fatigue severity among 1,663 adults (70.0% female, M age = 44.5 years, SD = 11...

Objective: The prevalence of pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has been estimated from an ethnically and sociodemographically diverse community-based random sample of 10,119 youth aged 5-17. A team of physicians made a final diagnosis of ME/CFS if the participants met criteria for up to three selected case definitions following medical and psychiatric evaluations. We assessed whether a salivary biomarker of fatigue could identify youth with ME/CFS. Study Design: We examined the ratio of the concentrations of 2 peptide fragments in saliva, referred to as the Fatigue Biomarker Index (FBI), in participants from our study diagnosed with ME/CFS (n=59) and matched controls (n=39)...

Background: Chronic low back pain is the second leading cause of disability in the United States and is related to greater risk of opioid misuse. Research suggests that severe fatigue may be a relevant factor for better understanding the greater rates of opioid and misuse among adults with chronic low back pain. Therefore, the current study sought to examine differences in opioid misuse, risk for opioid use disorder, and hazardous alcohol use in two different groups: one group with clinically significant fatigue, and one group without clinically significant fatigue...

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to determine which symptoms among long-hauler COVID-19 patients change over time, and how their symptoms compare to another chronic illness group. 278 long-haulers completed two symptom questionnaires at one time point, with one recounting experiences from an average of 21.7 weeks prior. METHODS: We used a comparison group of 502 patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Participants completed a standardized symptom questionnaire and a list of additional CDC COVID-19 symptoms...

Background: Fatigue is the most common and debilitating symptom experienced by oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy. Little is known about patient characteristics that predict changes in fatigue severity over time. Purpose: To predict the severity of evening fatigue in the week following the administration of chemotherapy using machine learning approaches. Methods: Outpatients with breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer ( N =1217) completed questionnaires one week prior to and one week following administration of chemotherapy...

Background: Past research has found high rates of hyperventilation in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), but hyperventilation can be influenced by psychological factors. Clinical respiratory rates have been less frequently assessed. Aim: This study aimed to identify the predictors of rapid respiratory rates in patients referred to an outpatient clinic specializing in ME/CFS. Methods: Adults ( n = 216) referred to an outpatient clinic specializing in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) participated in a two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test...

Objective: Chronic low back pain is the second leading cause of disability in the United States and is frequently related to increased risk of opioid and alcohol misuse. Depression is associated with poor substance use outcomes among persons with chronic low back pain. Theoretically, the influence of depression on opioid and alcohol misuse among those with chronic low back pain may vary as a function of fatigue sensitivity. Method: To empirically test this theorized model, the current study examined fatigue sensitivity as a moderator for the relation between depression and opioid and alcohol misuse among 291 adults (69...

Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness of unknown origin that may have familial risks. Low natural killer (NK) lymphocyte activity was proposed as a risk for familial CFS in 1998. Since then, there have been many studies of NK lymphocytes in CFS in general populations but few in familial CFS. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by NK lymphocytes helps control viral infections. ADCC is affected by variant CD16A receptors for antibody that are genetically encoded by FCGR3A ...

Background: Overlapping and concomitant symptoms among similar chronic illnesses have created difficulties for diagnosis and further treatment. Three such chronically fatiguing illnesses, Post-polio syndrome (PPS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) fall under this category. Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine and distinguish between core symptoms found in these illnesses (i.e. muscle pain/weakness, fatigue or exhaustion, and autonomic symptoms) via three methods of analysis (DePaul Symptom Questionnaire 2 (DSQ-2), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and machine learning techniques)...

BACKGROUND: The DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) was developed to assess the symptomatology and case definition fulfillment of individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The questionnaire was recently revised to improve its psychometric properties, increase its diagnostic reliability, and assess symptoms required by case definitions. The resulting instrument was named the DSQ-2. PURPOSE: The current study sought to evaluate the utility and reliability of the new and revised items in the DSQ-2...

Background: Disabling persistent perceived fatigue occurs in 50% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but mechanisms are poorly understood. Low histidine could contribute to fatigue since it is the neurotransmitter histamine precursor and low serum levels are reported in other diseases where fatigue is common (e.g., breast cancer, kidney disease, diabetes). Serum histidine is also inversely correlated with proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF, IFN-y), which have been linked to MS fatigue...

Background: Current case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) require an individual to report a 'substantial reduction' in activity levels, when compared to premorbid functioning. However, little guidance is provided on how to measure these reductions, as well as what level of reduction should be deemed 'substantial,' leading to inconsistencies in how this criterion is applied across research settings. Purpose: The current study examined the influence of substantial reduction criterion on case definitions...

Background: Individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) routinely display differences in symptomatology, as well as illness course, onset, duration, and functional disability. Given such diversity, previous work has attempted to identify symptom-based ME/CFS subtypes. However, results have been inconsistent. Purpose: This study sought to elucidate potential subtypes of ME/CFS as well as explore the impact of subtype membership on health functioning...