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1
Nairn, Carron. "Enteroviruses and chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1999. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/39026/.
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A prospective study was initiated to follow a group of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and examine their serum for evidence of enteroviral sequences over time and to compare any positive PCR products by sequence analysis. Additionally, a questionnaire was developed to determine the clinical nature of the illness and to try to correlate this with the enteroviral status of the patient at a particular time. Initial phylogenetic analysis of sequence derived from twenty serum positive samples showed that the sequences derived from CFS patients grouped apart from the known enteroviruses and from sequences derived from other clinical cases on a phylogenetic tree (Galbraith et al., 1995). The sequences were approximately 69-84% similar to the closest sequence of a coxsackievirus B3. However, the sequences could have been from known enteroviruses with no sequence data available, from known enteroviruses with variant 5' NTRs or from previously unknown enteroviruses. Further analysis at a later date with other available sequence data showed that the sequences grouped within the coxsackie/echovirus group although some were still 10-13% different. The variation observed was of the order of that seen between clinical isolates of the same serotype, thus the CFS patient sequences may have represented known enteroviruses with variant 5' NTRs. Without corroboration from other regions this tentative group could not be described further. The capsid region was chosen as an alternative target region since it is relatively conserved among the enteroviruses, containing the neutralizing regions which form the basis of the serotypes. Semi-nested priming could amplify the majority of the known enteroviruses to a sensitivity of 1 TCID50, which was 100-fold less than the standard PCR. Testing of 55 samples previously positive by the standard PCR did not generate any positives. The use of other techniques (inverse PCR, long PCR and production of a cDNA library) to acquire additional sequence were also unsuccessful. Either the assays were not sensitive enough to detect the low levels of RNA present in the serum (as assessed by the standard PCR) or the genome is so different or deleted (perhaps due to the presence of defective-interfering particles) that amplification was not possible. Indeed, the discovery that 85% of enteroviral RNA samples lacked a poly-A tail may also point to there being atypical sequence present. Limited sample volume prevented this from being pursued further. Persistence was examined by analyzing the 5' NTR sequence of two sequential samples obtained from sixteen patients. Many sequences, however, were more similar to those isolated in the same year than to their respective pair. Additionally, correlation with clinical data did not suggest a role for enteroviral persistence in the maintenance of the syndrome, although a positive correlation between severity of symptoms (based on ability to work and time spent walking for example) and the presence of enteroviral sequence was noted on analysis of first questionnaires from a cohort of 130 patients. This was not present on analysis of the second questionnaire from each patient. The average duration of fatigue for this group of patients was 3.9 years and thus questionnaire analysis proved difficult in terms of patients recalling features prior to their fatigue. In a preliminary study, a group of patients who had a history of fatigue of approximately six months was described. Enteroviral sequences were detected in the serum of 42% of CFS patients compared to 27% of acutely-ill patients and 2% of healthy control individuals. Additionally, a number of positives in the CFS patient group were detected after one round of PCR only, perhaps indicating a higher titre of enterovirus in these samples. While this study was being carried out there was an outbreak of echovirus 4 and this suggested therefore that the virus played a direct role in triggering the syndrome. Sequence analysis of PCR positives was not performed at this time to confirm this theory. Thus it may be useful to test patients shortly after the onset of fatigue where there is a history of a flu-like illness, when there is a greater chance of recovering a possible triggering agent, even though a formal diagnosis has not been made. Consistently, a higher proportion of CFS patients than comparison individuals were positive for enteroviral sequences throughout this study (except in 1997) and thus this work does not rule out the enteroviruses as being involved in CFS. However, the methods employed did not elucidate any further sequence information nor provide a definitive answer regarding the role of these viruses in individuals with a long history of illness.
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Dogolich, O. I. "Chronic fatigue syndrome – an illness or a syndrome?" Thesis, БДМУ, 2020. http://dspace.bsmu.edu.ua:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/18048.
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White, Christine M. "Chronic fatigue syndrome : a qualitative investigation /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2004. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe17733.pdf.
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Coryell, Virginia Tai. "Orthostatic Intolerance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Scholarly Repository, 2008. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/94.
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Persons with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) often complain of an inability to maintain activity levels and experience a variety of orthostatic symptoms such as dizziness, trembling, nausea, postural hypotension with bradycardia or tachycardia, sweating, palpitations, paleness, and syncope. Orthostatic intolerance (OI) may be defined as an inability to maintain systolic blood pressure (SBP) within 20 mmHg of resting level upon moving from a supine to upright posture. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether men and women with CFS are more susceptible to OI during a 3-stage head-up tilt (HUT) than non CFS, sedentary subjects matched by age, sex, and ethnicity. The secondary objective is to examine whether possible underlying mechanisms may be predictively associated with OI susceptibility in CFS. Possible causes of OI include autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and altered hematological profile. Thus, specific aims included within this objective are: 1) to determine whether there are differences in resting cardiovascular function {i.e., blood pressure [BP], heart rate [HR], stroke volume [SV], cardiac output [CO], total peripheral resistance [TPR], and contractility [i.e., ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), and the velocity of circumferential shortening corrected by HR (VCFc)]}, ANS function {i.e., beta1-, beta2-, and alpha-receptor sensitivities, baroreceptor sensitivity [BRS], and vagal function [i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), RSA envelope (RSAE), high frequency (HF) spectral component, and HR range]}, and hematological profile [i.e., red blood cell volume (RBCV), plasma volume (PBV), and total blood volume (TBV)] between CFS and non-CFS groups; and 2) to determine whether cardiovascular, ANS, and hematological measures differentially predicted OI during HUT. The results indicate that OI susceptibility does not occur with greater prevalence in persons with CFS than non-CFS sedentary persons. However, power analyses revealed that with a much larger sample size group differences in OI susceptibility would be found. The CFS group was distinguished from the control group only by differences in blood volume measures. There appears to be no substantive group differences in a range of cardiovascular and ANS measures; moreover, none of these measures, including the blood volume measures, accounted for differences in OI susceptibility. Compensatory mechanisms may be present in CFS for the diminished blood volume that could explain the lack of group differences in OI susceptibility. In addition, future research may find some clues relevant to CFS pathophysiology in the assessment of hemodynamic responses during orthostatic challenge in the present subjects.
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Brocki, Joanna Mary. "Significant others and chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.491148.
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Chronic fatigue syndrome is a symptomatically defined condition primarily characterised by a minimum of 6 months severe and debilitating fatigue of new onset which cannot be explained by any other medical causes. CFS is considered a controversial condition as aetiology is unclear, prognosis poor and symptom patterns commonly fluctuate. Families may be particularly important in CFS as the loss of wider social networks may make CFS patients more reliant on close family members. What little work there is suggests that significant others and CFS patients hold largely similar beliefs about the illness and that significant others' responses may be associated with functional outcome in CFS (Heijmans, de Ridder, & Bensing, 1999; Schmaling, Smith, & Buchwald, 2000). The primary purpose of this study was to explore the illness cognitions, including spontaneously made causal explanations for CFS onset and symptoms (causal attributions), of significant others of patients with CFS in relation to a number of outcomes including significant others' burden, distress and their behavioural responses to the CFS patient. A secondary feature of this study is the use of a variety of different quantitative and qualitative research methods, combined to obtain a detailed understanding of significant others' beliefs. Participants were 30 CFS patients and their nominated 'significant other'. Participants were interviewed at home using a semistructured interview examining illness cognitions. They also completed a battery of questionnaires measuring distress and the illness perceptions of both patient and significant other. Patient functioning was assessed from the viewpoints of both patient and significant other. Significant others also completed a measure of behavioural responses to the patient, and a measure of burden. Additionally, eighty five undergraduate students completed questionnaire measures to assess their knowledge of and beliefs about CFS. CFS patients and students reported less coherent models of the condition than did significant others. Significant others' illness cognitions were found to be predictive of burden and distress experienced, and their behavioural responses were associated with a number of aspects of patient functioning. Significant other distress was associated with personal and global attributions. Rejecting-hostile responses towards the patient were associated with attributing CFS to causes personal to the patient. Where significant others made more controllability attributions, they were less likely to make responses encouraging the patient to rest. Additionally, there were significant associations between causal attributions and a number of illness cognition dimensions which are discussed. The use of qualitative analysis techniques (thematic analysis and interpretative phenomenological analysis) identified issues of identity as important in terms of illness beliefs and behavioural response. The present study demonstrates that illness cognitions, whether measured using standard questionnaires, from spontaneous attributions, or qualitatively, are related to important outcomes for both the significant other and the CFS patient. However, the use of different methods demonstrates that what appear to be similar or the same constructs derived from different methodologies may actually be subtly different. In terms of formulating models of illness, the present study highlights the importance of clarity when utilising terminology in terms of research in this area. Further research in this area might usefully focus on an examination of the way in which two partners thinking about and experiencing the impact of chronic illness together formulate a joint story with a particular focus on how such a joint story might develop.
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Chaudhuri, Abhijit. "Metabolic changes in chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2003. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/6542/.
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Metabolic functions are one of the principal determinants of energy expenditure and are exquisitely susceptible to the effects of circulating hormones and chemical changes. Consequently, clinical experiments based on energy expenditure and metabolic functions were considered to be valid approaches to the present research. Significant abnormalities were found in the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in CFS patients. Automatic cardiovascular responses to exercise are also impaired in a subset of CFS patients. Finally, plasma membrane injury appears to be a possible explanation for a range of observations made in this research. Subjective fatigue is a complex symptom. It is the outcome of a variable combination of physiological and neuropsychological changes induced by the primary disease process. Downstream links between brain, neuromuscular and the cardiorespiratory functions are implicated in the neural control of force output during exercises in health and disease. Higher perceived fatigue in CFS is probably caused by the central mechanisms while the sensory input to these neural regulatory mechanisms may limit endurance to maximal and submaximal exercises. Based on these findings and more indirect evidence from other studies, changes in cell membrane properties affecting neuronal signalling in the basal ganglia seem to emerge as one of the likely pathophysiological mechanisms in CFS. There is also evidence of an imbalance of the central autonomic tone in a subset of CFS patients. Surely, research in CFS has the potential to unravel the biology of central fatigue and may bridge the gap that exists between the borderland of neurology and psychiatry.
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Majeed, Tahir. "Neuroendocrine alterations in chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.295330.
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Dendy, Catherine. "Cognitive aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, Open University, 1997. http://oro.open.ac.uk/57681/.
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Recent interest in cognitive behavioural therapy techniques for treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has highlighted the contribution of psychological approaches to alleviating the debilitating symptoms of this illness. In previous research sufferers from CFS have been compared with depressed patients and patients with neuromuscular disease, as they share similar symptoms, but not diagnosis. This study attempts to compare four groups including a normal working group. A new measures was developed and piloted, designed to measure interpretations of symptoms in CFS. In addition standard instruments were used to focus on the measurement of high personal standards, perfectionism, emotional control and conscientiousness and levels of autonomy. Results showed the CFS group were similar to the normal working group on all standard scales and scored low on autonomous personality traits. Reasons for this result, and the clinical implications for treating such a heterogeneous patient group are discussed. Measures on the symptom interpretation scale show CFS patients are less likely to give an emotional explanation for their symptoms than the other participant groups. This has implications for communication between physician and patient, and the treatment of CFS with a psychological model.
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Karfakis, Nikolaos. "The biopolitics of chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/27969.
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This thesis approaches Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) as a biopolitical problem, that is as a shifting scientific object which needs to be studied, classified and regulated. Assemblages of authorities, knowledges, and techniques make CFS subjects and shape their everyday conduct in an attempt to increase their supposed autonomy, wellbeing and health. CFS identities are, however, made not only through government, scientific and medical interventions but also by the patients themselves, a biosocial community that collaborates with scientists, educates itself about the intricacies of biomedicine, and contests psychiatric truth claims. CFS is a socio-medical disorder, an illness trapped between medicine, psychology and society, an illness that is open to debate, and therefore difficult to manage and standardise. CFS is, thus, more than a fixed and defined medical category; it is a performative and multiple category, it is a heterogeneous world. This thesis studies that performative complexity by assembling different pieces of empirical data that constitute its heterogeneity: medical and psychiatric journals and monographs, self-help books, CFS organisations’ magazines, newsletters and websites, illness narratives and social studies of CFS, CFS blogs, and qualitative interviews with diagnosed CFS patients and CFS activists. The thesis delineates different interventions by medicine, science, the state and the patients themselves and concludes that CFS 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.
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Fairhurst, Denise Jocelyn. "Cognitive deficits in chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1999. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/1393/.
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This thesis focuses on cognition in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Many patients report difficulties such as `fuzzy' thinking, poor memory, reduced attention, and slowness of thought. Whilst much of the earlier literature presented conflicting results, more recently the theory that there is slowed processing has been suggested. Standard neuropychological tests have been used and been helpful in the description of this slowing, however an explanation for this slowing has not been postulated. This thesis proposes a slowed processing theory of cognition in CFS focusing on representational weakness and global reductions in cortical activity as possible mediators of slowing. Sixty-eight CFS patients (tertiary care clinic attendees) and 63 healthy controls participated in the study. They completed standard neuropsychological tests from the Weschler Memory Scale-R and measures of comorbid symptomatology, specifically the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, The Fatigue Scale and the Profile for Fatigue Related Symptoms. They also completed a battery of tests designed to assess whether CFS patients had slowed performance; whether these problems could be attributed to representational weakness; whether there were differences in CFS and control participants' performance on perceptually and conceptually processed tasks, and tasks requiring conscious and non-conscious processing. The role of non-novel versus novel stimuli and interference is also discussed. The The results suggested that CFS patients' recall was worse than control participants' on the following measures: Paired Associate Learning - hard pairs, Logical Memory, and explicit memory. They were slower than controls for all levels of processing graded from perceptual to conceptual, and for semantic judgements of word pair relatedness. The results are discussed as support for a theory of cognition in fatigue which is dependent on 2 factors; firstly, representational weakness and secondly global slowing of cortical activity. It is proposed that these two factors interact, and the performance of CFS patients on what may initially appear to be similar tests can be quite discrepant.
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Smit, Byron Nel. "The relationship between Burnout Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/53465.
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It is widely accepted that the current occupational context is a stressful one, especially considering rapid changes in the economic and political environment. Individuals are exposed to higher levels of stress over a longer period of time, which can have serious negative implications. If the stress cannot be tolerated, an individual is at risk of developing an exhaustion-related illness such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Burnout Syndrome. Both Chronic Fatigue and Burnout Syndrome are exhaustion-related phenomena which result from persistent stress. Where Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is characterised primarily as a physical illness, Burnout Syndrome is typically considered psychological. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Burnout Syndrome, as well as the influence of other variables which include job satisfaction, social support, age and gender. Additionally, the study sought to determine the potential prevalence of chronic fatigue and burnout among the sample which was drawn. Quantitative data collection strategies were used, whereby participants completed an online survey consisting of a battery of instruments. A final sample size of 69 participants was achieved. The results show that the population is potentially at risk for both chronic fatigue and burnout, having scored relatively high on the respective scales. In regard to the relationship between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Burnout Syndrome, the study was not able to conclusively demonstrate a significant relationship between the two syndromes. However, there is evidence to suggest various similarities across the syndromes, particularly in regard to the physical components of exhaustion and the number of physical symptoms experienced by individuals. Future research could further explore this finding to determine the extent of that relationship, and whether it could contribute to a re-conceptualisation of exhaustion-related illnesses.Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
Psychology
MA
Unrestricted
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Russell, Charlotte. "The relationship between sleep and fatigue in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-relationship-between-sleep-and-fatigue-in-chronic-fatigue-syndrome(ea68da56-797b-40ae-ab27-a620da7aee6d).html.
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This thesis has been prepared in a paper based format and includes an empirical paper, a systematic review and critical reflection. As a whole, the thesis focuses on the importance of sleep in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The systematic review is prepared for submission to 'Sleep Medicine Reviews'. The empirical paper is prepared for submission to the 'Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology'. Paper 1 is a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the current evidence for the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) on sleep in CFS. Eight studies were found and their methodological quality varied. To understand heterogeneity in findings, information regarding intervention delivery, including the presence of sleep management components, methodology and sleep outcome measures was extracted and synthesised. We conclude that GET can improve sleep, when delivered by experienced therapists in outpatient settings. The evidence for CBT on sleep is limited, moreover, at present we know little about the effectiveness of adding sleep management components to interventions. We suggest that sleep outcomes used previously have not been sufficiently comprehensive and sensitive to measure change in sleep difficulties experienced in CFS. Implications for further research are discussed. Paper 2 presents an empirical study examining the relationship between sleep and fatigue in CFS using a daily diary approach. Sleep was measured objectively using actigraphy, and subjectively, using sleep diaries, in order to test which parameters better predict next-day fatigue. We also examined whether negative mood could mediate these relationships and whether subjective sleep variables were predicted by pre-sleep arousal. Using multilevel modelling, we found that subjective sleep, and not objective sleep, predicted next-day fatigue and these relationships were partially mediated by negative mood on waking. Pre-sleep cognitive and somatic arousal predicted subjective sleep variables including sleep efficiency and quality. Based on these findings, we suggest that interventions targeting subjective sleep, such as CBT for insomnia, may be useful in improving experiences of fatigue in CFS. Paper 3 is a critical reflection on the systematic review and empirical research, and on the process as a whole. Strengths and weakness of Paper 1 and Paper 2 are discussed, in addition to consideration of their contribution to wider research, and clinical practice.
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Kaemingk, Kristine Lynn. "Cardiovascular reflex function, fatigue and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185968.
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Recently there has been increased interest in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a syndrome of nonspecific symptoms and unknown etiology. The relationship between cardiovascular reflex function, fatigue, and depression in CFS was examined. Findings were as follows: First, there was no evidence of abnormal cardiovascular reflex function in the CFS group. Second, the CFS group had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than the control group. Third, the CFS group scored higher on psychological measures of depression, fatigue, and confusion than the control group; the control group scored higher on a measure of vigor than the CFS group. Finally, the CFS group reported more CFS-related symptoms, but some members of the control group did endorse symptoms on a CFS symptom checklist. The possibility that increased peripheral resistance accounts for the elevated blood pressure in the CFS group, and the merits of exploring the role of interleukin-1 and other hormones or "hormone-like" substances in the etiology or maintenance of CFS symptomatology are discussed.
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Rusch, Mary L. "Cognitive behavioural treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome: an in-depth case study." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002555.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a chronic disabling condition characterised by persistent physical and mental fatigue, and a variety of somatic, psychological and neurological symptoms. The aetiology of CFS is unknown and the cause of the illness remains controversial. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a non-pharmacological treatment approach that has been shown to be effective in treating patients with CFS. It is based on a model that hypothesises that certain maladaptive thoughts and dysfunctional beliefs may contribute to self-defeating behaviour that perpetuates symptoms and disability, and thereby impedes recovery. The main aim of this study was to critically examine the cognitive-behavioural approach of CFS outlined by Sharpe, Chalder, Palmer & Wessely (1997) by conducting three in-depth case studies. An additional aim was to present a full cognitive developmental case conceptualisation of CFS based on the theories of Leahy (1996) and Young (1994). This case study evaluated the effectiveness of a CBT treatment programme in a 48-year-old Caucasian woman diagnosed with CFS for three years. The treatment consisted of sixteen sessions of CBT and was evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. On the basis of this study, a set of core maladaptive schema in the area of disconnection and rejection was identified. In addition, it was found that specific compensatory schemas had developed to offset the core maladaptive schemas and that this compensatory strategy played an important role in maintaining the condition. The results also showed a significant decline in fatigue coupled with a moderate decline in functional disability and depression. A one-month follow-up interview revealed evidence of a substantial consolidation of therapeutic gains in that the improvements observed at the end of the treatment were sustained. Finally, the feasibility of incorporating a cognitive-developmental and/or schema-focused model into the standard CBT treatment model is discussed and the case study method as a research toll is evaluated in light of the findings.
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Williams, Nancy. "Neuropsychological and psychosocial aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/1785.
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This Thesis reports a full scale study of cognition and mood in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) longitudinally during recovery. Previous studies fail to cover the scope of this study and/or fail to define adequately the syndrome for subject selection. 47 CFS patients were compared with 41 normal and 26 Crohns/colitis controls in a longitudinal study of cognitive performance and depression/anxiety scores. CFS patients performed significantly worse than controls on many of the cognitive tests at first testing. Small but significant differences between CFS and normal controls were found on memory tests (Logical Memory, Word Recognition and, more significantly, Rey Complex Figure) but Crohns/colitis patients scored similarly to CFS, suggesting that this might relate to a general problem such as attention. Much larger and more significant differences between CFS and both control groups were found on tests involving a psychornotor component (e. g. Reaction Time, Finger Tapping and Digit Symbol). CFS patients' performance improved over time (above practise) on word recognition, Stroop (colours), Reaction Time (Movement) and Digit Symbol. CFS patients were significantly more depressed/anxious than the control groups and scored higher on Middlesex Health Questionnaire (Psychiatric). Depression/anxiety did not diminish significantly by second testing. Differences on depression scores accounted for some of the differences in cognitive test performance, in particular Word Fluency and Stroop; however, significant differences remained after ANCOVA removed depression: significant differences remained on Logical Memory, Word Recognition, Digit Symbol, Finger Tapping and Reaction Time. It was concluded that CFS patients were slowed on psychornotor tasks and that this was only partly accountable by depression as suggested by depressed score. CFS patients performed slightly worse on some other tests possibly dependant upon the task demand. Digit Symbol, Reaction Time, and Finger Tapping seemed to be most sensitive to CFS. Brain damage was not necessarily indicated by the results: differences in psychornotor performance could be caused by difficulties in the transmission of instructions to the muscle or slowness in the nerves and muscles themselves. CFS patients' performance significantly improved on a number of tests over time, and did not significantly deteriorate on any test; therefore, the trend of CFS patients' test performance overall was to get better not worse over time.
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Fuentes, Karina. "Chronic fatigue syndrome, intraindividual variability in cognitive functioning." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/NQ62514.pdf.
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Gräns, Hanna. "Transcriptome analysis of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome /." Stockholm, 2005. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2005/91-7140-448-1/.
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Caspero, Alexandra M. "Usual dietary intake among chronic fatigue syndrome patients." Scholarly Commons, 2009. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/729.
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The relationship between dietary intake and the pathology of CFS has been an area of intense speculation without strong research support. There may be important links between diet and symptoms such that dietary interventions may be efficacious as adjunct therapy. This study was designed to assess any dietary abnormalities among Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. The purpose of this study is to make a controlled assessment of usual dietary intake so that dietary recommendations for CFS patients can be made. A Diet History Questionnaire, provided by the National Institute of Health, was used to analyze usual dietary intake among CFS patients. Women, ages I 8 and older, diagnosed by a physician with CFS, and were asked to complete the online survey. To complete the questionnaire, participants were provided with a user name and password and asked to answer a number of questions about their dietary habit. Twenty (n=20) women with CFS completed the questionnaire. The results were compiled and analyzed using Diet-Calc software and compared with nonnative data. Several nutrients were found to be deficient in more than 75% of the CFS patients.
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Gotts, Zoe. "The role of sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, Northumbria University, 2014. http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/21605/.
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Poor quality and unrefreshing sleep is one of the most common symptom complaints in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Despite this, the links between sleep dysfunction and CFS are not well understood, and there has been an absence of good quality research into the nature of sleep problems in CFS, which also lack consistency in the data reported. However, it remains plausible that sleep problems may help to maintain and exacerbate other existing symptoms. Given the dispute in models ranging from the biological to the psychological, competing to explain symptomology, it is a critical time by which we try to understand the relationship between poor sleep, fatigue, endocrine activity and CFS, in an attempt to shortcircuit this debate. With an aim to redress this, this thesis intended to examine the role of sleep from several angles, utilizing a range of assessment methods; Study 1 addressed the lack of in depth qualitative interview studies, to understand the extent to which sleep, its management and problems, are linked to the lived experience of CFS, and how it interacts with other symptoms (chapter 3). Patient narratives demonstrated that sleep disturbances experienced were highly unpredictable and variable over time, but played a key role in symptom maintenance; Study 2 examined self-reported sleep (via sleep diaries) in CFS patients, exploring whether sleep quality and daytime napping had an impact on daytime fatigue, sleepiness and cognitive functioning (key dimensions of the illness experience) (chapter 4). The results were highly variable but indicated that afternoon-evening napping was associated with greater impairment in daytime cognitive functioning in CFS patients. It was also evident that CFS patients with longer wake time and a shorter diagnosis had more severe fatigue; Study 3 explored the possibility that sleep problems in this population are not homogeneous and revealed four sleep-specific phenotypes to exist, which are amenable to different treatment approaches. The initial cross-sectional examination of single-night polysomnography (PSG) data identified 30% of the sample had a primary sleep disorder (PSD), which underscores the need to assess for PSDs in CFS populations (chapter 5); Study 4 was conducted to address the principle aim of this thesis; to determine the feasibility of a detailed, 3-night sleep assessment protocol in a small cohort of CFS patients. By utilising iv a range of methods including ambulatory PSG and a gold-standard protocol for sampling of diurnal salivary cortisol, the study piloted the most comprehensive assessment of sleep ever attempted in a CFS population. The findings established a successful protocol that was acceptable to patients (chapter 6), a key advancement in this field where effective and thorough sleep assessment is needed. Preliminary sleep data confirmed a notable variability of sleep problems to exist. Further, the temporal stability of sleep variables was established; sleep continuity (sleep duration, wake duration, sleep efficiency) and main architectural (sleep stages) parameters were consistent across two nights of assessment (chapter 7). The results presented in this thesis indicate that disturbed sleep is a major problem for patients with CFS, albeit highly variable between and within individuals. The identification of sleep phenotypes also confirms the heterogeneity of sleep in CFS. Interestingly, light sleep and arousability was a recurring sleep characteristic in patients that was mirrored by the studies presented throughout the thesis, highlighting a potential autonomic component. This should be a consideration for forthcoming work, along with the possibility that sleep disturbances may mediate the maintenance and exacerbation of symptoms, fuelling a reciprocal cycle that keeps the condition going. The preliminary findings presented throughout this trajectory of research will help to form the systematic development of a sleep characterisation and intervention programme. With this field moving towards more patient-centred medicine and tailored treatments, by combining data from the objective and subjective sleep measures, we aim to design a definitive multicentre study, using sleep-specific interventions, amenable to the four phenotypes identified. The long-term goal is to improve treatments that will enhance symptom management, which is crucial in this condition, at least until the CFS research understands the pathogenesis of this debilitating disease.
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Andrews, Karen Joyce. "The process of coping and self-management in the experience of recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003132.
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A hermeneutical model of doing research is adopted to investigate the process of coping and self-management in the experience of recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Three research participants who consider themselves as recovering or recovered from CFS were interviewed to obtain data for analysis. The findings are that once the participants cope with the uncertainty about the meaning of the onset of symptoms by defining themselves as ill in somatic terms, the participants use external social and treatment resources to cope with the onset of symptoms and being chronically ill with CFS. As a consequence of feeling stigmatised in relation to social and professional scepticism about initially being ill and subsequently, being chronically ill with CFS, the participants become uncertain about the meaning of having CFS. Coping shifts to using internal resources by adopting self-management practises. In this process, firstly, existing self-management shifts in such a way that the participants view themselves as recovering or recovered from CFS, and secondly, the participants come to the understanding that difficulties with self-management cause and maintain CFS. The findings are discussed to conclude that CFS may be a misdiagnosis of difficulties with self-management. CFS itself may not be an 'objective' disorder, but a constituent of social processes. Becoming diagnosed with CFS arises as a consequence of the search for meaning in relation to the lay and professional assumption that psychological illness does not constitute 'real' illness, operating at both the levels of popular society and the doctor-patient relationship. Difficulties with self-management rather than the diagnosis of CFS provide a more adequate understariding of the participants' illnesses.KMBT_363
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Kato, Kenji. "Genetic epidemiological studies of the functional somatic syndromes : chronic widespread pain and chronic fatigue /." Stockholm, 2007. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2007/978-91-7357-055-8/.
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Lynch, Sean Patrick Jeremy. "The nature of fatigue in the chronic fatigue syndrome : a longitudinal study." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/7496.
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Lowry, Timothy. "Health related quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome : predictors of physical functioning and psychological distress /." [St. Lucia, Qld], 2004. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe18193.pdf.
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Goudsmit, Ellen Marianne. "The psychological aspects and management of chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, Brunel University, 1996. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/4283.
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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) describes a condition characterised by severe fatigue of at least six months' duration. In this thesis, it is argued that the complexity of CFS with respect to other symptoms, the patients' response to their illness and the determinants of emotional distress, has yet to be fully recognised. This may have narrowed the focus of research and limited the range of treatments available. The first of the three studies investigated CFS from the patients' perspective. The findings challenge some of the generalisations concerning CFS, particularly those relating to the patients' attributions and their choice of coping strategies. They also suggest that the effects of the condition may have been underestimated and that certain influences on emotional distress may have been overlooked. The second study assessed a number of variables thought to be associated with emotional distress and psychological adjustment. The results show that uncertainty and lack of social support were significantly correlated with anxiety and depression while functional impairment was more closely linked to cognitive difficulties and other illness-related measures. The third study evaluated a management programme which acknowledges the complexity of CFS. After six months, significant differences between the treated patients and waiting-list controls were found for a number of variables, including fatigue, somatic symptoms, anxiety and perceived self-efficacy. However, many patients continued to record high levels of emotional distress, showing that the programme was not sufficient to deal with all the problems experienced.
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Ax, Susanne. "Coping with chronic fatigue syndrome : sufferers and their carers." Thesis, Birkbeck (University of London), 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.299935.
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Nicholl, Catherine. "Adults' experiences of life with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2004. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/3562/.
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Literature Review: Studies investigating the Quality of Life (QoL) and experiences of people with CFS/ME are reviewed. A number of standardised measures of QoL have been used with people with CFS/ME. Studies have consistently shown significantly reduced QoL across all domains, compared to the general population and other chronic illness groups. The mainly qualitative literature describing the experiences of people with CFS/ME highlighted the impact of symptoms, experiences of not being believed, difficulties obtaining a diagnosis and the effects of the illness on identity. The conceptual and methodological limitations of the studies are discussed. The relevance of the findings to theoretical models of CFS/ME and chronic illness are considered and recommendations made for future research. Research Report: A qualitative study was undertaken to explore the experiences of people with CFS/ME. Semi-structured interviews were completed with eight women. The results were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Participants described initially feeling overwhelmed by their illness. Attempts to seek help and advice resulted in experiences of being let down and disbelieved. Participants reacted to this by seeking information and identifying sources of self-help, this enabled them to increase their sense of control and begin to accept their illness. The relationship of the results to existing research and theoretical models of adjustment to CFS and other chronic illnesses is discussed.
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Papitsch, Andrea. "Cognitive processing biases in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, Royal Holloway, University of London, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.413690.
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Robinson, Susan Ilene Shelton. "Acceptance and resistance : sufferers' management of chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, Royal Holloway, University of London, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.404612.
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Ross, Caroline. "Goals and Antigoals: Self-Regulation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Thesis, Ross, Caroline (2017) Goals and Antigoals: Self-Regulation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2017. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/37035/.
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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness with no cure, requiring patients to rely upon self-regulatory skills to manage their symptoms alongside their personal goals. This study investigated the role of self-regulation in symptom exacerbation, life activities and affective experience.
Questionnaires were developed to assess self-regulatory behaviours relating to goals and antigoals guided by Carver and Scheier’s (1998) Control Systems Model (CSM). Consistent with Carver and Scheier, relatively independent factors representing each CSM component were identified; additionally, some components comprised multiple factors.
Study 1 investigated CFS (n = 58) and healthy control (n = 111) group differences at each CSM component for goals and antigoals. The pattern of group differences differed between goal- and antigoal-related components, supporting the conceptualisation and measurement of goal and antigoal-related systems as separate constructs. Controlling for age and gender by individual matching, the CFS group (n = 44) reported undertaking more planning, encountering more problems, less control and more negative affect than the control participants (n = 44) in relation to goals; and more planning, more problems, less control, and higher negative affect ratings than the control group in relation to antigoals. Additionally, the matched CFS participants reported less goal confidence and a greater willingness to consider limited disengagement from their antigoal.
Study 2 investigated whether trait optimism, pessimism or social support may account for the CSM differences identified in study 1. Lower optimism in the CFS group moderated the between-group differences in goal planning and control, but not goal-related negative affect or confidence; nor antigoal planning or flexibility. No differences in social support or pessimism were identified.
Study 3 investigated the association between CSM components and the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. The CFS group worked fewer hours per week than the controls; however, this difference was unrelated to CSM components.
Study 4 investigated the potential role of learned helplessness (LH) in limiting goal progress; homeostatic maintenance (HM) in limiting antigoal prevention; and the occurrence of goal-antigoal links (GAL) amongst the CFS participants. Consistent with the CSM, goal progress predicted positive affect, and impending antigoals predicted negative affect in both groups. Inconsistent with both CSM and the controls’ results, among CFS patients, poor goal progress also predicted negative affect. Dysregulation consistent with LH and HM in relation to goals and antigoals, respectively, were found within the CFS group but not the control group. There was no evidence of GAL within the CFS or control groups.
Study 5 investigated differences in goal/antigoal-related affect in relation to LH and HM in CFS. Affect did not predict the cognitive aspects of the CSM relating to LH theory. Among CFS participants, depressive and anxious symptoms co-varied. Consistent with HM theory, greater psychological distress relating to antigoals was associated with more frequent contemplation and monitoring of the antigoal.
Study 6 investigated predictors of goal- and antigoal-related distress, to test whether these were consistent with signs of LH and HM. In the CFS group, greater distress was associated with maladaptive illness perceptions of CFS as cyclical in nature consistent with HM processes, but there was no association between negative affect ratings and illness perceptions in relation to goals and LH. Optimism did not predict goal or antigoal-related distress.
This thesis demonstrates the importance of controlling for age and gender to reduce spurious findings. It supports future experimentation with anxiety treatment for CFS patients focussing on homeostatic maintenance in relation to antigoals within the context of maladaptive illness cognitions associated with perception of CFS as cyclical in nature. Practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed.
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Kesler, Brittany. "Quality of Life Among Entrepreneurs With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5362.
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The impacts of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are far reaching, resulting in many burdens in the individual lives of CFS patients. One notable challenge lies in the inability to participate in the workforce due to associated physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. Previous research indicates that alternative employment options may help to overcome work related barriers presented with various types of chronic illness. Entrepreneurship is one path to working that offers many benefits, including autonomy, flexibility of work schedule, choice of work environment, and control. Questions though remain as to whether entrepreneurship enhances QOL or exacerbates symptoms among individuals with CFS. This interpretive descriptive study investigated the lived experiences of individuals diagnosed with CFS who have pursued a path of entrepreneurship. A semistructured interview was used to gather the 12 participants' descriptions of their history of living with CFS while working as entrepreneurs. The interviews were coded and analyzed to extract overarching themes. Results included the ways in which participants were transformed as a result of having CFS, their experiences of living with CFS and being self-employed, and the interpersonal factors that arose in connection with these experiences. This study served to shed light on the challenges involved in being self-employed while living with CFS, how being self-employed affected participants' quality of life both positively and negatively, and how participants interpret these changes. The findings of this study have the potential to set the stage for future qualitative and quantitative research that would provide more support in terms of tangible action when it comes to employment options for individuals living with CFS.
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Bülow, Pia. "Making sense of contested illness : talk and narratives about chronic fatigue /." Linköping : Univ. : Dept. of Communication Studies [Kommunikation, Institutionen för Tema], Univ. [distributör], 2003. http://www.bibl.liu.se/liupubl/disp/disp2003/arts280s.pdf.
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Maclachlan, Laura. "Causes and consequences of autonomic dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/3185.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is an incapacitating condition characterised by extreme fatigue. In the absence of an objective diagnostic test CFS remains a clinical diagnosis based on a broad spectrum of symptoms, including autonomic dysfunction and cognitive impairment. This has given rise to significant challenges, not least the development of multiple sets of diagnostic criteria that may represent different disease phenotypes. This thesis examines autonomic and cognitive features between subgroups that meet different diagnostic criteria to better understand this possibility. It also examines the overlap between symptoms of CFS and depression, a potential confounder. Methods A subset of data from a larger Medical Research Council funded observational study Understanding the pathogenesis of autonomic dysfunction in CFS and its relationship with cognitive impairment was examined. Patients were screened using the SCID-I assessment tool to exclude major depression prior to the main study. Depressive symptoms were compared to CFS Fukuda criteria. The DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ) was used to differentiate between diagnostic criteria. COMPASS and COGFAIL questionnaires were administered for self-reported autonomic and cognitive features respectively. The Task Force® Monitor was used for autonomic assessment and a battery of neuropsychological tests administered for objective cognitive assessment. Results Subjective autonomic and cognitive symptoms were significantly greater in CFS subjects compared to controls. There were no statistically significant differences in objective autonomic measures between CFS and controls. There were clinically significant differences between DSQ subgroups on objective autonomic testing. Psychomotor speed was significantly slower in CFS compared to controls. Visuospatial memory, verbal memory and psychomotor speed were significantly different between DSQ subgroups. Conclusion The findings indicate phenotypic differences between DSQ subsets and suggest that elucidating the symptoms seen in CFS, or its disease spectrum, will support research into its underlying pathophysiology and enable more tailored treatment. The absence of significant differences in objective autonomic function between CFS and controls in this cohort contrasts to findings of some other studies and may reflect study exclusion for depression. Together with the overlap between CFS and depressive symptoms, this reinforces the need to better understand the underpinning causality to allow appropriate identification and management.
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Arroll, Megan Anne. "Investigation of symptom perception and severity in chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2009. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/2788/.
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Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterised by numerous symptoms including prolonged fatigue, cognitive difficulties and autonomic disturbances yet the cause of the condition remains unknown. This thesis aimed to investigate the symptom experience and perception of those with CFS in an effort to discover whether particular psychological and cognitive variables impacted on symptomatology. Methods: Three discrete studies using qualitative (semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) and quantitative (a longitudinal survey with a 6-month follow-up and an experimental study utilising a computer-based emotional Stroop task) methodologies were the basis of the five empirical chapters in this thesis. Results: Qualitative findings illustrated the diverse symptomatology of individuals with CFS and key features of the illness course, for instance difficulty in gaining a diagnosis. Next, data reduction techniques were used with the time-one survey data and generated three distinct sub-groups based upon symptom severity which were independent of demographic factors (low, medium and high symptomatology). The low symptom group was associated with negative affect and sex, the medium group's symptom reports were predicted by perceiVed control and the time taken to reach a diagnosis, whereas in the high group, age, depression, positive affect, perceiVed control and the cognitive response to symptoms variable 'damage' all influenced symptomatology. At 6-month follow-up, change in negative affect predicted change in symptomatology in the low group, no variables were influential in symptom change in the medium group and 'damage' and the illness perception 'consequences' predicted symptomatological change in the high group. Finally, objective attentional bias did not differ between low and high symptomatology CFS participants and controls in the emotional Stroop task.
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Ragg, Meighan. "Locus of control in chronic fatigue syndrome : Does it matter?" Thesis, University of Canterbury. Psychology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/6861.
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The relationship between health locus of control and functioning in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) was investigated. The hypothesis was that an internal health locus of control would be associated with less impairment in functioning than other dimensions of health locus of control. Prior research undertaken into CFS has been inconsistent in its finding's and it continues to be an area of controversial interpretations. A repeated measures design was used, 74 people participated at the initial stage of the study and 67 people participated in the second stage. The Functional Limitations Profile was used to assess levels of impairment. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control was used to identify types of health locus of control orientation, and the Shapiro Control Inventory was used to establish a clearer picture of control issues. Correlations and t-tests were used to investigate the relationship between health locus of control and functioning. The results of these analyses indicated that an internal health locus of control was positively related to functioning. Multiple regression analysis was performed and showed that an internal health locus of control could successfully predict functioning measured at the second stage of the study. An unexpected discovery was that a doctor's health locus of control impacted negatively on functioning. The Shapiro Control Inventory revealed that the CFS sample fell within the normal range in the majority of control areas, but was outside the normal range in only six of the 23 control areas. These findings indicated that health locus of control does play an important role in CFS. It was therefore concluded that increasing a patient's sense of control and reflecting this in the treatment regime of CFS would aid recovery.
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Travers, Michele Kerry. "From Violation to Reconstruction: The Process of Self-Renewal Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/636.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a contested condition that generates scepticism and occupies a marginalised position within medical and social contexts. The thesis examines the illness experiences, and specifically the experiences of self, for people affected with CFS. Using qualitative inquiry, a substantive theory related to the process of self-renewal and adaptation associated with CFS is explicated. The theory encompasses the trajectory of CFS from onset to chronicity, and in exceptional instances, recovery. Illness narratives were derived from in-depth, semi-structured interviews of 19 adults, including 16 people affected with, and 3 people recovered from, CFS. Data was coded and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Analysis generated two parallel narratives that defined the illness experience of CFS: the narrative of the illness biographies and the narrative of self, specifically the struggling and diminished self seeking renewal. The illness biographies encompassed the stories of symptoms and their explanations, the encounters that ensued and their contentious milieu. The narrative of self was the primary narrative. It articulated the negative consequences to self and personhood associated with CFS, named the Violation of Self, and the consequent efforts of participants to decrease the struggle and violation by use of the Guardian Response and the Reconstructing Response. The Guardian Response provided protection and self-reclamation. The Reconstructing Response fostered self-renewal and meaning. The two narratives were bridged by the threats of CFS. That is, the illness biographies were accompanied by threats of disruption related to chronic illness, and by threats of invalidation that arose from CFS as a contested condition. In turn, these threats provided the catalyst to the violation and responses as described in the narrative of self. Under different conditions the relative strengths of violation, guardianship or reconstruction fluctuated, and it was these fluctuations that presented the participants with the ongoing struggle of CFS.
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Travers, Michele Kerry. "From Violation to Reconstruction: The Process of Self-Renewal Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." University of Sydney. Clinical Nursing, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/636.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a contested condition that generates scepticism and occupies a marginalised position within medical and social contexts. The thesis examines the illness experiences, and specifically the experiences of self, for people affected with CFS. Using qualitative inquiry, a substantive theory related to the process of self-renewal and adaptation associated with CFS is explicated. The theory encompasses the trajectory of CFS from onset to chronicity, and in exceptional instances, recovery. Illness narratives were derived from in-depth, semi-structured interviews of 19 adults, including 16 people affected with, and 3 people recovered from, CFS. Data was coded and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Analysis generated two parallel narratives that defined the illness experience of CFS: the narrative of the illness biographies and the narrative of self, specifically the struggling and diminished self seeking renewal. The illness biographies encompassed the stories of symptoms and their explanations, the encounters that ensued and their contentious milieu. The narrative of self was the primary narrative. It articulated the negative consequences to self and personhood associated with CFS, named the Violation of Self, and the consequent efforts of participants to decrease the struggle and violation by use of the Guardian Response and the Reconstructing Response. The Guardian Response provided protection and self-reclamation. The Reconstructing Response fostered self-renewal and meaning. The two narratives were bridged by the threats of CFS. That is, the illness biographies were accompanied by threats of disruption related to chronic illness, and by threats of invalidation that arose from CFS as a contested condition. In turn, these threats provided the catalyst to the violation and responses as described in the narrative of self. Under different conditions the relative strengths of violation, guardianship or reconstruction fluctuated, and it was these fluctuations that presented the participants with the ongoing struggle of CFS.
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McIlvenny, Shirley. "Fatigue in a developing country." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268216.
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Ronder, Julia Therese. "Psychiatric investigation into a cluster of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescence." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/7873.
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Collier, Janette Marie. "Predictors of quality of life and adjustment to chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/NQ62312.pdf.
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Paul, Lorna. "Aspects of voluntary motor performance in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Thesis, Glasgow Caledonian University, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.298762.
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Gyllin, Ann-Charlotte, and Karin Odefjord. "Att vara en åskådare : -Leva med Myalgisk Encefalomyelit/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Thesis, Högskolan Väst, Avdelningen för omvårdnad - grundnivå, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hv:diva-12655.
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Background Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a neurologic disease. Between 0,1-2,6% of the world’s population is estimated to have ME/CFS. Even though a lot of people are affected there is a lack of knowledge about the disease. Its symptomatology affects the whole body and is severely debilitating. It’s at utmost importance that this subject is studied so that nurses can get an increased knowledge about ME/CFS. Aim The aim was to highlight people's experiences of living with ME/CFS. Method A literature-based study based on analysis of ten qualitative scientific studies was performed. Results Four main themes and fourteen subthemes were revealed. The main themes were about changing living conditions, lack of knowledge, changes in the body and existential changes. Changes were a major part of the result and people with ME / CFS experienced that the changes could be both positive and negative. The results showed that there is a knowledge gap regarding ME / CFS, which has serious consequences for people with the diagnosis. Conclusion The conclusion of the study was that knowledge, information and support is important for people with ME / CFS. By working person-centered, the nurse can help people with ME / CFS feel better.
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Zaturenskaya, Mariya. "The Effect of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Severity Subtype on Treatment Responsiveness." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1268426679.
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Domenech, C. "Developing an expressive writing intervention for people with chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2004. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1446797/.
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Expressive writing has been shown to improve health outcomes in a variety of populations, from healthy college students to people with rheumatoid arthritis. A number of hypotheses have been suggested to account for these beneficial effects, but the precise mechanism of action underlying expressive writing has yet to be established. Positive outcomes obtained in studies with clinical populations, have led to the question of whether expressive writing could be helpful for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This study aimed to pilot an expressive writing intervention for people with CFS and to explore their experience of the intervention. It aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and perceived helpfulness of the intervention, and attempted to shed light on its possible mechanism of action. Nine patients were recruited from a specialist CFS clinic. They were asked to write about an emotionally upsetting or traumatic experience, for twenty minutes, once a week, for four consecutive weeks. Following the expressive writing intervention, they participated in a semi-structured interview to explore their experience. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the transcribed interviews. Expressive writing was found to be both feasible and acceptable to the people with CFS in this study. Participants reported that overall the home-based writing intervention had been helpful and had provided them with a possible coping strategy for the future. They articulated how they thought the writing had made a difference and from this three possible mechanisms of action were proposed, including emotional expression, behavioural activation and cognitive organisation. These findings lend support to the notion that there may be more than one mechanism of action underlying the beneficial effects of writing.
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Barber, Louise. "Pragmatic evaluation of group cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome." Thesis, Bangor University, 2007. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/pragmatic-evaluation-of-group-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome(a81828ae-ccdb-4eed-a504-a54979c0795f).html.
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Although cognitive behaviour therapy is recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as one of the treatments of choice for people suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) there is relatively little evidence of the effectiveness of this treatment in group format. Group interventions are often preferred as resources are scarce within the National Health Service and are considered to be more cost effective. There is no cure for CFS and the treatment options that are currently available are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the limited group cognitive behaviour therapy (GCBT) studies. The methodological limitations and generalisability of the findings are questioned followed by implications for clinical pýactice. Finally the direction of future research is discussed and the need for further f group CBT in routine clinical settings. The research paper investigates the effectiveness of a GCBT for people with CFS. In this pragmatic,n on-randomisedc, ontrolled design2 8 people acted as their own waiting list control by completing a range of measures 8 weeks prior to taking part in GCBT. The intervention consisted of 8 consecutive weeks of 2.5-hour sessions. Significant improvements were found compared to the waiting list in physical and mental fatigue and depressive symptoms. Improvements in quality of life, hope and optimism were also found but no improvements were reported for anxiety levels, pain or physical functioning. Global outcomem easurersr evealedt hat the majority of the patients found the treatment beneficial and were satisfied with the results. It is concluded that GCBT is a beneficial treatment that patients find amenable in routine clinical practice for CFS. However further research is indicated to improve subgroup identification and refine intervention programmes. Contributions to theory and researcha re presentedin the final section research,along with the strengths and limitations of the research and future researchs uggestionsT. he contribution to clinical practice is also discussed. Finally the research experience is explored to include personal motivations and the research experience.
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O'Neill, Katherine M. "The psychological management of chronic low back pain : a controlled trial." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.321037.
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Sihra, Nirmal. "Sleep duration and mood." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1996. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/26145.
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It is widely believed that sleep and mood are interrelated and that prolongation of sleep may have beneficial effects on subsequent mood and general well-being. In the present investigation, it is hypothesised that excess sleep is in fact, detrimental to mood and is associated with a 'Wornout Syndrome', characterised by feelings of fatigue and lethargy, that can persist for up to 5 hours. The studies to be presented here compare the differential effects of Sleep Extension and Sleep Restriction on mood in healthy adults. The experimental design required subjects to undergo one night of Sleep Extension [+2h] and, following an interval of one-week, one night of Sleep Reduction [-2h]. The conditions were counterbalanced. Subjective assessments were conducted hourly on mood states and sleepiness using an adapted Profile of Mood States Questionnaire and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. Actometers were worn throughout the experimental days and nights. In the first study of 10 subjects results indicated that four subjects were adversely affected by oversleep. Study 2 investigated the effects of sleep duration on mood in 20 healthy adults. Personality factors were assessed using Cattell's 16PF Questionnaire. Subjects maintaining regular sleep schedules reported negative effects of oversleep on subsequent mood. Results indicated that certain personality types were predisposed to the 'Wornout Syndrome' following Sleep Extension. In Study 3, thirty-four subjects were selected on the basis of personality type. It was hypothesised that Introverts, Morning types, Emotionally Tenderminded and Low Impulsives would report symptoms characteristic of the 'Wornout Syndrome' following one night of Sleep Extension. This was confirmed by reports of increased fatigue, diminished vigor, and increased confusion following Sleep Extension. Oversleeping produced greater detrimental effects on mood than a comparable reduction in sleep duration. There are many similarities in symptomatology between the 'Wornout Syndrome' and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), specifically, intense fatigue and impaired concentration. Interestingly, chronically fatigued patients often complain of sleep disturbance, and spend much of their time resting in bed. It was hypothesised that the 'Wornout Syndrome' may be a confounding factor in the symptomatology of CFS. As a clinical dimension, twelve subjects were investigated polysomnographically [six were CFS patients]. Findings indicated that CFS patients acquired sleep of longer duration than controls. In addition to excess nocturnal sleep, CFS patients were taking daytime naps. EEG data indicated that these individuals obtained twice the normal amount of slow wave sleep. CFS sufferers may be better advised to regulate their sleep habits and reduce their total sleep time to avoid the confounding effects of the 'Wornout Syndrome'.
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Sharpe, Michael Christopher. "Patients with chronic disabling medically unexplained fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome) : a descriptive case series and randomised controlled trial of psychological treatment." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.271706.
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Tooley, Gregory Allan, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "The Integrity of the circadian time-keeping system in chronic fatigue syndrome." Deakin University. School of Psychology, 2000. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20051017.135752.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition in which severe, ongoing fatigue is the most prominent of a complex of somatic, psychological and neuropsychological symptoms. The aetiology of CFS remains uncertain and, to date, efforts to distinguish a clear pathophysiological profile for the disorder have been unsuccessful. Current evidence suggests that, rather than being a discrete disease entity with a single cause, CFS is a clinical condition resulting from the interaction of a number of pathophysiological factors, including acute infections, stress and psychiatric disorder. Recently, there has been some interest in the proposition that disordered circadian time-keeping may contribute to the development and/or course of the illness. The rationale for the investigation of circadian factors in CFS is based on the fact that disorders known to be associated with circadian dysregulation, such as jet lag and shiftwork related syndromes have a high degree of symptomatological overlap with CFS. Also, the presence of circadian disturbance could account, in part, for other phenomenological aspects of CFS, including the high rates of comorbid affective disturbance, and the reports of low-level immune dyregulation among sufferers. While several recent studies have produced some evidence of chronobiological dysregulation in CFS patients, much work remains before conclusions can be drawn about the presence, nature and clinical significance of circadian disturbance in CFS. This thesis describes a series of studies that were designed to systematically investigate: 1. whether CFS is associated with a state of circadian dysregulation, and 2. whether circadian dysregulation contributes significantly to the symptomatology of CFS. The first of the 5 studies reported here compared the circadian patterns of sleep-activity of CFS sufferers with those of healthy controls. Results indicated that CFS patients' sleep-activity cycles were significantly phase delayed compared to controls, and that some aspects of their circadian profiles of sleep-activity were related to some measures of sleep-disturbance and well-being. Studies 2 and 3 investigated the relationship between rhythms of sleep-wake and core temperature in CFS patients and healthy controls. The major finding from these studies was that sleep-wake and core temperature rhythms appear to be less effectively synchronised. Further evidence was collected that suggested that there was a relationship between circadian parameters and symptom measures in the CFS group.
While this indicated that circadian dysregulation is linked in some way to the symptoms of CFS, assessment of the actual clinical significance of circadian disturbances required the use of a prospective methodology. The final two studies, therefore, report on a placebo-controlled trial of clinical interventions that were designed to restore circadian integrity to CFS patients, in order to see whether this would lead to a reduction in symptom number or severity. Results indicated that, although patients experienced improvements across a range of measures of symptoms and functional capacity, these were small in magnitude, of unlikely clinical significance, and no greater, in general, to improvements reported by patients who underwent placebo treatment. These results, along with those of the earlier studies, are discussed with respect to their implications regarding the presence and significance of circadian dysregulation. It is concluded that, while they provide evidence that CFS is associated with a degree of both internal and external circadian desynchrony, these findings suggest that circadian dysregulation is likely to be only a peripheral, contributor to the processes that generate and maintain the symptom complex. These findings are discussed with respect to how they contribute to our overall understanding of this multi-dimensional condition, and the implications they have for the continuing effort to investigate the causes and treatment of CFS.
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Roche, Lauren. "Acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome : a case series approach." Thesis, University of Lincoln, 2016. http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/24006/.
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Background: Acceptance is understood to be an important element in coping with chronic illnesses, linked to positive outcomes such as reduced symptoms and greater quality of life. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disabling syndrome that is associated with a poor reported quality of life even in comparison to other chronic conditions. Given that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychotherapeutic model aimed at increasing psychological flexibility, with an emphasis on experiential acceptance and the pursuit of values, this approach holds potential for living and coping with CFS. Methods: This study used a mixed method multiple single case design to explore the effects of a six week self-help ACT intervention with six participants with CFS. Results: Significant increases in ‘engaged response style’ was replicated in four out of six participants and maintained at follow up, with the qualitative data adding further validity to the importance of the values component of the intervention. Low initial acceptance scores improved in four participants but were not maintained. Overall measures of psychological flexibility indicated improvements maintained at follow up for three participants. All participants wearing the activity monitor showed increased physical activity post-intervention, three of which maintained this at follow up. Five participants reported less symptoms and disability, which was maintained for three participants. The implicit measure indicated that underlying beliefs remained stable. Conclusion: This study was largely exploratory but it seems that this intervention might be of benefit to some individuals with CFS, particularly in the promotion and pursuit of individual values. This study adds support to the role of acceptance in CFS however in this format at least it seems that any benefits from the intervention are difficult to maintain. Although improvements in overall psychological flexibility were replicated in three out of six participants, this prompts discussion about the ineffectiveness of the intervention for other participants.
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Beaulieu, Marcia. "Stigma and legitimation in chronic fatigue syndrome : the role of social location." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1997. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp02/NQ44359.pdf.
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