title: A natural history study of chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a need for natural history chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) studies from random, community-based, multi-ethnic populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study examined the course of CFS from Wave 1 to Wave 2, which spanned over a ten year period of time, and, assessed whether socio-environmental and symptomatology factors were associated with CFS status over the ten year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was relative stability over time on critical measures of disability, fatigue, support, optimism and coping over time. One cardinal symptoms of CFS, post-exertional malaise, best differentiated the CFS group from the others. By Wave 2, of the original group of 32 individuals diagnosed with CFS, 4 had died, and 24 were found and agreed to be re-evaluated, and of this group, 16 continued to have CFS, 5 developed exclusionary illnesses, 2 were classified as Idiopathic chronic fatigue, and one had remitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study found that over time in a community-based sample, unbiased by help seeking behavior the CFS group remained rather ill with a variety of different conditions over time.
authors.affiliation: DePaul University. Ljason@depaul.edu
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jason
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunnell
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rademaker
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Richman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires