Adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the symptomatic and educational long-term outcomes, health care use, and risk factors of nonrecovery in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).


METHODS
Follow-up study.


METHODS
Academic pediatric hospital.


METHODS
Sixty adolescents with CFS.


METHODS
Regular care.


METHODS
The Checklist Individual Strength, Child Health Questionnaire, and a general questionnaire regarding further symptoms, school attendance, work attendance, and treatment.


RESULTS
Complete measurements were returned for 54 adolescents (90%). At initial assessment, their mean (SD) age was 16.0 (1.5) years and 20.4% were male. The mean follow-up duration was 2.2 years. At follow-up, the mean (SD) age was 18.2 (1.5) years; 28 adolescents (51.9%) had nearly complete improvement of symptoms but 26 (48.1%) did not experience improvement. Adolescents who attended school (n = 41) had missed an average of 33% of classes during the last month. The rest (n = 13) had worked an average of 38.7% of a full-time job during the last month. A total of 66.7% of subjects were treated by a physiotherapist, 38.9% were clinically treated in rehabilitation, 48.1% had received psychological support, and 53.7% had used alternative treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
About half of the adolescents had recovered from CFS at follow-up. The other half was still severely fatigued and physically impaired. Health care use had been high, and school and work attendance were low. Older age at inclusion was a risk factor, and pain, poor mental health, self-esteem, and general health perception at outcome were associated with an unfavorable outcome. Future research should focus on customizing existing treatment and studying additional treatment options.
van Geelen
Stefan M
SM
Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, Utrecht, the Netherlands. s.m.vangeelen@umcutrecht.nl
Bakker
Rob J
RJ
Kuis
Wietse
W
van de Putte
Elise M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003289:Convalescence; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome