Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis. Conditions, strategies, and consequences

Fatigue is a frequent and debilitating problem for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this descriptive study a Fatigue Interview Schedule was administered to 20 patients with RA to elicit symptom-specific information. Qualitative analyses resulted in the identification of descriptors of fatigue, conditions under which fatigue occurs, an intricate repertoire of strategies used to prevent and manage fatigue, and the consequences of chronic fatigue.