Chronic fatigue syndrome and DSM-IV personality disorders

[Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an overview of current evidence]

Over the past 5 years both media and scientific interest has surged regarding the disorder myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), not least because of the clinically similar manifestation in long COVID or post-COVID. In this review we discuss the process of clinical diagnosis and randomized controlled therapeutic studies on ME/CFS, and the similarities or differences to long COVID and post-COVID. So far, neither clear pathophysiologically causal nor therapeutic evidence-based results on ME/CFS have been identified in the many years of scientific research. Given the evident psychiatric comorbidity rates in patients with a diagnosis of ME/CFS, a psychosomatic etiology of this syndrome should be considered. Furthermore, a precise and reliable diagnostic classification based on stricter criteria would benefit both pathophysiological and therapeutic research.

The 'cognitive behavioural model' of chronic fatigue syndrome: Critique of a flawed model

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is a debilitating illness that greatly impacts the lives of sufferers. A cognitive behavioural model attempts to explain illness onset and continuance with a hypothesis that the illness is perpetuated by patients' irrational beliefs and avoidance behaviours. This theory underpins the promotion of cognitive behavioural therapy, a treatment that aims to change beliefs and behaviours. This article reports on a detailed review of the cognitive behavioural model. Our review finds that the model lacks high-quality evidential support, conflicts with accounts given by most patients and fails to account for accumulating biological evidence of pathological and physiological abnormalities found in patients. There is little scientific credibility in the claim that psycho-behavioural therapies are a primary treatment for this illness.

The biopolitics of CFS/ME

This paper argues that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) constitutes a biopolitical problem, a scientific object which needs to be studied, classified and regulated. Assemblages of authorities, knowledges and techniques make CFS/ME subjects and shape their everyday conduct in an attempt to increase their supposed autonomy, wellbeing and health. CFS and CFS/ME identities are however made not only through government, scientific, and medical interventions but also by the patients themselves, a biosocial community who collaborates with scientists, educates itself about the intricacies of biomedicine, and contests psychiatric truth claims. CFS/ME is an illness trapped between medicine and psychology, an illness that is open to debate and therefore difficult to manage and standardise. The paper delineates different interventions by medicine, science, the state and the patients themselves and concludes that CFS/ME remains elusive, only partially standardised, in an on-going battle between all the different actors that want to define it for their own situated interests.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter

Objective: Despite the growing evidence of physiological and cellular abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), there has been a strong impetus to tackle the illness utilizing a biopsychosocial model. However, many sufferers of this disabling condition report distress and dissatisfaction following medical encounters. This review seeks to account for this discord.Methods: A narrative review methodology is employed to synthesize the evidence for potential iatrogenesis.Results: We identify seven potential modalities of iatrogenesis or harm reported by patients:difficulties in reaching an acceptable diagnosis;misdiagnosis, including of other medical and psychological conditions;difficulties in accessing the sick role, medical care and social support;high levels of patient dissatisfaction with the quality of medical care;negative responses to controversial therapies (cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise therapy);challenges to the patient narrative and experience;psychological harm (individual and collective distress).Conclusion: The biopsychosocial framework currently applied to ME/CFS is too narrow in focus and fails to adequately incorporate the patient narrative. Misdiagnosis, conflict, and harm are observable outcomes where doctors' and patients' perspectives remain incongruent. Biopsychosocial practices should be scrutinized for potential harms. Clinicians should consider adopting alternative patient-centred approaches.Implications for rehabilitationPatients with ME/CFS may report or experience one or more of the modalities of harms and distress identified in this review.It is important health and rehabilitation professionals seek to avoid and minimize harms when treating or assisting ME/CFS patients.There are conflicting models of ME/CFS; we highlight two divergent models, a biopsychosocial model and a biomedical model that is preferred by patients.The 'biopsychosocial framework' applied in clinical practice promotes treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise therapy, however, the evidence for their success is contested and many patients reject the notion their illness is perpetuated by dysfunctional beliefs, personality traits, or behaviors.Health professionals may avoid conflict and harm causation in ME/CFS by adopting more concordant 'patient-centred' approaches that give greater prominence to the patient narrative and experience of illness.

Diagnostic Concordance Between Categorical and Dimensional Instruments to Assess Personality Disorder in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract. The study examines the relationship between a categorical and a dimensional personality assessment instrument in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). A total of 162 CFS patients were included in the study (91.4% women; mean age 47.5 years). All subjects completed the Spanish versions of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+) and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). Results: 78 (48.1%) of the patients presented a Personality Disorder (PD), the most frequent being Cluster C, specifically Obsessive-compulsive disorder, followed by Avoidant disorder. PDs showed a specific pattern of correlation with temperament scales. All PD clusters correlated positively with Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence, and negatively with Reward Dependence, Self-Directedness, and Cooperativeness. In a logistic regression analysis, Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness predicted PD presence. The findings are consistent with previous studies in non-CFS samples and suggest that the combination of the Temperament and Character dimensions (low Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness and high Harm Avoidance and Self-Transcendence) correlates with PD severity, and that Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness are associated with PD presence in CFS patients. The integration of these two perspectives expands the current comprehension of personality pathology in CFS patients.

The association between borderline personality disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Overlap of aetiological factors and demographic characteristics with clinical observations of comorbidity has been documented in fibromyalgia syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and borderline personality disorder (BPD).

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to assess the association of BPD with fibromyalgia syndrome and CFS. The authors reviewed literature on the prevalence of BPD in patients with fibromyalgia or CFS and vice versa.

METHODS

A search of five databases yielded six eligible studies. A hand search and contact with experts yielded two additional studies. We extracted information pertaining to study setting and design, demographic information, diagnostic criteria and prevalence.

RESULTS

We did not identify any studies that specifically assessed the prevalence of fibromyalgia or CFS in patients with BPD. Three studies assessed the prevalence of BPD in fibromyalgia patients and reported prevalence of 1.0, 5.25 and 16.7%. Five studies assessed BPD in CFS patients and reported prevalence of 3.03, 1.8, 2.0, 6.5 and 17%.

CONCLUSIONS

More research is required to clarify possible associations between BPD, fibromyalgia and CFS.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

None.

COPYRIGHT AND USAGE

© The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.

Undiagnosed and comorbid disorders in patients with presumed chronic fatigue syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To assess undiagnosed and comorbid disorders in patients referred to a tertiary care center with a presumed diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS

Patients referred for chronic unexplained fatigue entered an integrated diagnostic pathway, including internal medicine assessment, psychodiagnostic screening, physiotherapeutic assessment and polysomnography+multiple sleep latency testing. Final diagnosis resulted from a multidisciplinary team discussion. Fukuda criteria were used for the diagnosis of CFS, DSM-IV-TR criteria for psychiatric disorders, ICSD-2 criteria for sleep disorders.

RESULTS

Out of 377 patients referred, 279 (74.0%) were included in the study [84.9% female; mean age 38.8years (SD 10.3)]. A diagnosis of unequivocal CFS was made in 23.3%. In 21.1%, CFS was associated with a sleep disorder and/or psychiatric disorder, not invalidating the diagnosis of CFS. A predominant sleep disorder was found in 9.7%, 19.0% had a psychiatric disorder and 20.8% a combination of both. Only 2.2% was diagnosed with a classical internal disease. In the total sample, a sleep disorder was found in 49.8%, especially obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, followed by psychophysiologic insomnia and periodic limb movement disorder. A psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 45.2%; mostly mood and anxiety disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

A multidisciplinary approach to presumed CFS yields unequivocal CFS in only a minority of patients, and reveals a broad spectrum of exclusionary or comorbid conditions within the domains of sleep medicine and psychiatry. These findings favor a systematic diagnostic approach to CFS, suitable to identify a wide range of diagnostic categories that may be subject to dedicated care.

Personality disorders in consultation-liaison psychiatry

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Liaison psychiatrists treat patients who present with self-harm, with medically unexplained symptoms (MUSs) and physical illnesses with psychological comorbidity. We sought to explore recent studies into the impact of personality disorder in liaison psychiatry.

RECENT FINDINGS

One in five patients presenting to most liaison psychiatry services suffers from a personality disorder. Patients who have self-harmed have a high rate of personality disorder, but there is little research on how liaison psychiatrists can engage these patients in appropriate treatments. Most patients with MUSs or a functional somatic syndrome do not have a personality disorder, but the prevalence is probably higher than in the general population. Little is known about how a personality disorder might affect the efficacy of treatment in these conditions. Patients with personality disorders have higher rates of physical illness. Personality disorders may complicate the treatment of patients with long-term physical conditions, and talking therapies have recently been described in primary and secondary care.

SUMMARY

Liaison psychiatrists have an ideal therapeutic opportunity to engage patients with a personality disorder in treatment when these patients present with self-harm. There is a need to understand and research how personality disorders might affect the prognosis and treatment of patients with MUSs or a functional somatic syndrome. Personality disorders may complicate the treatment of patients with long-term physical conditions, and talking therapies recently described in primary and secondary care may help their physical and psychological health.

Personality and chronic fatigue syndrome: The role of the five-factor model

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between personality factors and the symptomatology of fatigue among people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and compare them to people from the general population. Seventy-seven CFS patients (47 women, 30 men) were compared with 72 healthy individuals (44 women, 28 men) to investigate whether personality factors are related to the symptomatology of fatigue. All participants were asked to complete the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSC), and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI). The results revealed that the CFS group reported higher levels of neuroticism and conscientiousness than the control group. These two personality factors were significantly related to fatigue symptoms, impact, and severity in both groups. These findings suggest that personality factors of neuroticism and conscientiousness may play an important role in the development and perpetuation of fatigue symptoms.

Psychiatric aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

Chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia (CFS/FM) consists of highly overlapping, medically unexplained symptoms, including long-lasting fatigue, effort intolerance, cognitive dysfunction, and widespread pain and tenderness. CFS/FM often seems to be triggered by infections and physical trauma, but depression, sleep disturbances, and personality may also be involved. Moreover, dysregulation of the stress system, the immune system, and central pain mechanisms may determine the pathophysiology of the illness, leading to a loss of capacity to adapt to all kind of stressors. CFS/FM patients can be best helped by a pragmatic and individualized approach aimed at adjusting lifestyle and optimizing self-care, which in the long run may contribute to a restoration of physical and mental adaptability. Future psychiatric research into CFS/FM should focus on the complex interrelationships among pain/fatigue, stress/depression, and personality, as well as on processes of therapeutic change and the advantages of customized treatment.