title: Depression in paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of depression in children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and investigate the relationship between depression in CFS/ME and clinical symptoms such as fatigue, disability, pain and school attendance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey data using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) collected at assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialist paediatric CFS/ME service in the South West.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 12-18 years with CFS/ME.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depression was defined as scoring >9 on the HADS depression scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  542 subjects had complete data for the HADS and 29% (156/542) (95% CI 25% to 33%) had depression. In a univariable analysis, female sex, poorer school attendance, and higher levels of fatigue, disability, pain, and anxiety were associated with higher odds of depression. Age of child and duration of illness were not associated with depression. In a multivariable analysis, the factors most strongly associated with depression were disability, with higher scores on the physical function subscale of the 36 item Short Form (SF-36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is commonly comorbid with CFS/ME, much more common than in the general population, and is associated with markers of disease severity. It is important to screen for, identify and treat depression in this population.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bould
authors.forename: Simon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rimes
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crawley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Child Psychiatry; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Epidemiology