title: Longitudinal follow-up of employment status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome after mononucleosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of early clinical and demographic factors on occupational outcome, return to work or awarded permanent disability pension in young patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A written self-management programme including a description of active coping strategies for daily life was provided.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CFS after mononucleosis were evaluated at Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital during 1996-2006 (contact 1). In 2009 self-report questionnaires were sent to all patients (contact 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary measure was employment status at contact 2. Secondary measures included clinical symptoms, and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scores on both contacts, and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) at contact 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 111 patients at contact 1, 92 (83%) patients returned the questionnaire at contact 2. Mean disease duration at contact 1 was 4.7 years and at contact 2 11.4 years. At contact 1, 9 (10%) were part-time or full-time employed. At contact 2, 49 (55%) were part-time or full-time employed. Logical regression analysis showed that FSS≥5 at contact 2 was associated with depression, arthralgia and long disease duration (all at contact 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About half of younger patients with CFS with long-term incapacity for work experienced marked improvement including full-time or part-time employment showing better outcomes than expected. Risk factors for transition to permanent disability were depression, arthralgia and disease duration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Halvor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naess
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jon Steinar
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Birkeland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nyland
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: OCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE