Developing and validating a brief screening scale for ME/CFS

ABSTRACT

Objective

The purpose of the current study was to develop and evaluate a brief screening instrument for ME/CFS. The current study identified 4 symptom items that identify those positive for the IOM ME/CFS case definition.

Study Design

A data set of over 2,000 patients with Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and over 350 controls were assessed for the 4-item DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-Brief (DSQ-Brief). All respondents also completed the longer 54-item DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ-1) as well as the 14-item DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-Short Form (DSQ-SF). These data sets were collected from multiple countries. We also examined the DSQ-Brief, DSQ-1, and DSQ-SF with other chronic illness groups [Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)] and those with Long COVID. Random Forest comparisons were employed in these analyses.

Results

When contrasting ME/CFS from controls, high levels of accuracy occurred using the DSQ-1, DSQ-SF, and DSQ-Brief. High accuracy again occurred for differentiating those with ME/CFS from MS, PPS, and Long COVID using the DSQ-1 and DSQ-SF, but accuracy was less for the DSQ-Brief.

Conclusions

The DSQ-Brief had high sensitivity, meaning it could identify those with ME/CFS versus controls, whereas accuracy dropped with other chronic illnesses. However, it was possible to achieve better accuracy and identify those cases where misidentification occurred by administering the DSQ-SF or DSQ-1 following the DSQ-Brief. It is now possible to screen individuals for ME/CFS using the DSQ-Brief and in so doing, identify those who are most likely to have ME/CFS.

KEYWORDS:

• ME/CFS
• Long COVID
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Post-Polio Syndrome

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leonard A. Jason

Dr. Leonard A. Jason is a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, where he also directs the Center for Community Research.

Sage Benner

Sage Benner is a research assistant at the Center for Community Research.

Jacob Furst

Dr. Jacob Furst is a Professor in the College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) at DePaul University and longtime collaborator with Dr. Jason.

Paul Cathey

Paul Cathey is a research assistant at the Center for Community Research.