Population based study of fatigue and psychological distress.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of fatigue in the general population and the factors associated with fatigue.


METHODS
Postal survey.


METHODS
Six general practices in southern England.


METHODS
31,651 men and women aged 18-45 years registered with the practices.


METHODS
Responses to the 12 item general health questionnaire and a fatigue questionnaire which included self reported measures of duration, severity, and causes of fatigue.


RESULTS
15,283 valid questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 48.3%, (64% after adjustment for inaccuracies in the practice registers). 2798 (18.3%) of respondents reported substantial fatigue lasting six months or longer. Fatigue and psychological morbidity were moderately correlated (r = 0.62). Women were more likely to complain of fatigue than men, even after adjustment for psychological distress. The commonest cited reasons for fatigue were psychosocial (40% of patients). Of 2798 patients with excessive tiredness, only 38 (1.4%) attributed this to the chronic fatigue syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue is distributed as a continuous variable in the community and is closely associated with psychological morbidity.
Pawlikowska
T
T
Department of General Practice, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London.
Chalder
T
T
Hirsch
S R
SR
Wallace
P
P
Wright
D J
DJ
Wessely
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*