Fatigue after breast cancer and in chronic fatigue syndrome: similarities and differences.
OBJECTIVE
Fatigue is investigated in 57 severely fatigued disease-free breast cancer patients and in 57 gender- and age-matched patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using multidimensional and multimethod assessment. A comparison between these groups of patients is important to determine whether a cognitive behavioural intervention to reduce fatigue in CFS patients would be appropriate as well for severely fatigued disease-free breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Measurement included computerised questionnaires and a standardised neuropsychological test. Furthermore, patients filled out a daily Self-Observation List (SOL) and wore an actometer during a period of 12 days.


RESULTS
In comparison to severely fatigued disease-free breast cancer patients, CFS patients score more problematic with regard to the level of fatigue, functional impairment, physical activity, pain and self-efficacy. However, a subgroup of severely fatigued disease-free breast cancer patients reports the same amount of problems as CFS patients with regard to psychological well-being, sleep and concentration. Finally, CFS patients and severely fatigued breast cancer patients score equal on measures of social support.


CONCLUSIONS
There seem to be some similarities but also many differences between severely fatigued breast cancer survivors and females with CFS. Therefore, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to reduce fatigue after treatment for cancer should also differ in certain aspects from cognitive behaviour therapy as it has been developed for patients with CFS.
Servaes
Petra
P
Netherlands Fatigue Research Group, Department of Medical Psychology (118), University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. p.servaes@cksmps.azn.nl
Prins
Judith
J
Verhagen
Stans
S
Bleijenberg
Gijs
G
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged