title: Hyperventilation in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of coping strategies.
abstract: Hyperventilation has been suggested as a concomitant and possible maintaining factor that may contribute to the symptom pattern of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Because patients accepting the illness and trying to live with it seem to have a better prognosis than patients chronically fighting it, we investigated breathing behavior during different coping response sets towards the illness in patients with CFS (N=30, CDC criteria). Patients imagined a relaxation script (baseline), a script describing a coping response of hostile resistance, and a script depicting acceptance of the illness and its (future) consequences. During each imagery trial, end-tidal PCO2 (Handheld Capnograph, Oridion) was measured. After each trial, patients filled out a symptom checklist. Results showed low resting values of PetCO2 overall, while only imagery of hostile resistance triggered a decrease and deficient recovery of PetCO2. Also, more hyperventilation complaints and complaints of other origin were reported during hostile resistance imagery compared with acceptance and relaxation. In conclusion, hostile resistance seems to trigger both physiological and symptom perception processes contributing to the clinical picture of CFS.
authors: Research Group on Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Katleen
authors: K
authors: Bogaerts
authors: Morgane
authors: M
authors: Hubin
authors: Ilse
authors: I
authors: Van Diest
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: De Peuter
authors: Boudewijn
authors: B
authors: Van Houdenhove
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Van Wambeke
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: Crombez
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Van den Bergh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D007092:Imagination; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics