Functioning in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: increased 
impairment with co-occurring multiple chemical sensitivity and fibromyalgia.

Dyn Med. 2007 May 31;6(1):6 [Epub ahead of print]

Brown MM, Jason LA.

Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Center for 
Community Research, Chicago, IL, USA

NLM Citation: PMID: 17540028


Correction In our publication [Brown, M Jason, L: Dynamic Medicine 2007, 
6:6], the frequencies and percentages of lifetime and current Axis I 
disorders reported in Table 1 were found to be inaccurate. The values 
reported in Table 1 of this version have been corrected. All other outcome 
variables in Table 1 were reported correctly in the original version of the 
article. The analyses and results in the text were accurate in the original 
version of the paper.


ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple chemical sensitivity 
(MCS), and fibromyalgia (FM) commonly co-occur. Some propose that CFS, MCS, 
and FM are manifestations of the same illness based on high rates of 
co-occurrence and overlapping diagnostic criteria. This study seeks to 
differentiate these diagnoses by comparing individuals with one or more 
illness on functioning, psychiatric comorbidity, coping style, and in vivo 
physical measures.

METHODS: Participants included 114 men and women who met criteria for CFS. 
FM was diagnosed during a physical examination, and MCS was assessed using 
a questionnaire. Participants were divided into four groups: CFS alone, 
CFS-MCS, CFS-FM, and CFS-MCS-FM. Self-report measures, a psychiatric 
interview, and in vivo physical measures were given.

RESULTS: 43.9% met criteria for CFS alone, 23.7% met criteria for CFS-MCS, 
15.8% met criteria for CFS-FM, and 16.7% met criteria for CFS-MCS-FM. The 
CFS-MCS-FM group was more disabled than the CFS alone group on measures of 
physical functioning, general health, and bodily pain. In vivo measures did 
not differ, but the CFS-MCS-FM group rated exertion higher than the CFS 
alone group.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with CFS alone were the highest functioning group 
across several domains, such as disability, depression, and severity of 
symptoms. Participants with three diagnoses experienced the greatest amount 
of disability. While substantial co-occurrence of these illnesses was 
found, this study provides evidence that having more than one illness 
exacerbates one's disability beyond CFS alone.


[Note: This is an Open Access article.  The full text is available in PDF at
http://www.dynamic-med.com/content/pdf/1476-5918-6-6.pdf ]