| Autor: |
Jason LA, Ropacki MT, Santoro NB, Richman JA, Heatherly W, Taylor R, Ferrari JR, Haney-Davis TM, Rademaker A, Dupuis J, Golding J, Plioplys AV, Plioplys S |
| Zdroj: |
Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; 1997, Vol. 3 Issue 1, p39-59, 21p |
| Abstrakt: |
Because estimates of the prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have been quite variable, there is a need for a screening instrument and second stage medical assessment that will produce the most valid estimate of the CFS prevalence. In the present study, four groups of 15 subjects were recruited :patients diagnosed with (1) CFS, (2) Lupus, (3) Multiple Sclerosis(MS), and (4) a healthy control group. Participants were interviewed twice over a two week period of time with a screening instrument comprising The Fatigue Scale and a newly configured section. The screening instrument had an excellent test-retest and interrater reliability. This screening instrument therefore has utility for CFS community-base epidemiologic research. However, while the instrument differentiates patients with CFS from those who are healthy, it is less likely to distinguish CFS from other autoimmune diseases (especially Lupus). Thus, future community-based CFS prevalence studies should encompass both a screening and medical examination to adequately differentiate CFS from other illnesses with overlapping symptomatology. We recommend a two stage research design with (1) a screening instrument with a good sensitivity, and (2) medical assessments of CFS positives from stage 1 to deal with the specificity problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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