Variables That Differentiate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from Depression

Abstract

Assessment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has depended primarily on information obtained through clinical interviews or questionnaire data. The present study used an activity log, which describes patterns of daily behavior, over the course of two days to examine whether differences existed in the pattern, intensity, and qualitative nature of activity among those with CFS, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and controls. On average, participants in the CFS group spent significantly more time resting than the MDD group or control group. The CFS group spent nearly 2.5 times more than the MDD group and 4 times more than the control group performing low intensity activity. Findings indicated that people with CFS feel fatigued more of the time, find activity to be fatiguing more of the time, and need more rest during activity than people with MDD or healthy controls.

Key Words:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• activity
• depression
• symptomatology