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[Chronic fatigue syndrome in young persons]
L W de Jong1, J B Prins, T J Fiselier
1Afd. Medische Psychologie, Academisch Ziekenhuis, Nijmegen.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde
|August 2, 1997
Summary
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in Dutch teenagers is prevalent, with a poor prognosis. Treatment should address parental influence, inactivity, and somatic focus to improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Adolescent Health
Context:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) affects 10-20 per 100,000 adolescents in the Netherlands.
- The disorder's natural course is often unfavorable, leading to prolonged school absenteeism and functional impairment.
- Current diagnostic criteria emphasize physical symptoms, duration, and impact on daily life, excluding psychiatric disorders.
Purpose:
- To outline diagnostic criteria for CFS in adolescents.
- To identify factors contributing to persistent fatigue in this population.
- To propose a treatment approach for adolescent CFS.
Summary:
- Proposed CFS diagnostic criteria for adolescents include disabling fatigue for at least six months, absence of physical explanation, and significant functional impairment, with psychiatric disorders as exclusion criteria.
- Factors perpetuating fatigue involve somatic attributions, parental beliefs and behaviors, and physical inactivity.
- Treatment should target reducing somatic focus, encouraging healthy behaviors, gradually increasing physical activity, and minimizing medical attention for somatic complaints.
Impact:
- This research informs clinical practice for diagnosing and managing adolescent CFS.
- It highlights the crucial role of parental involvement and cognitive-behavioral strategies in treatment.
- Understanding contributing factors can lead to more effective, multidisciplinary interventions for pediatric chronic fatigue.