Prior research has found a heightened risk of suicide in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). It is possible that a number of factors including stigma, unsupportive social interactions, and severe symptoms could lead to the development of depression, suicidal ideation, and heightened risk of suicide in this patient population. Prior studies have indicated that patients often report the legitimacy of their illness being questioned by family, friends, and even their physicians. This study aimed to determine whether stigma experienced, social support, symptomology, and functioning may be associated with depression and endorsement of suicidal ideation (SI) in patients with a self‐reported diagnosis of ME or CFS. Findings indicated that participants that endorsed both SI and depression, in contrast to those that did not, experienced more frequent unsupportive social interactions in the form of blame for their illness, minimization of its severity, and social distancing from others. In addition, 7.1% of patients with ME and CFS endorsed SI but do not meet the criteria for clinical depression These findings highlight the importance of stigma and unsupportive social interactions as risk factors for suicidal thoughts or actions among patients with ME and CFS. Community psychologists have an important role to play in helping educate health care professionals and the public to these types of risk factors for patients marginalized by ME and CFS.

In the US, medical training is inadequate regarding the symptomatology, prognosis, and treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). As a result, many physicians lack the appropriate level of knowledge about effective methods for ME and CFS symptom reduction and often suggest inappropriate treatments, such as increased exercise or psychiatric services. The authors’ purpose in this study was to analyze negative patient experiences with health care professionals. Patients with ME and CFS who reported experiencing a dismissive physician attitude were asked to detail the encounter via open-ended response on an international, online survey. Participant responses were thematically coded and analyzed using processes outlined by Patton. Emergent themes related to perceived physician attitudes and how they impact patient wellbeing are described and their implications discussed. Additionally, we highlight suggestions for how the health care system can effectively approach this often marginalized patient group.

Objective: To develop a scale for the severity of mononucleosis (SOM). Study design:One to 5 percent of college students develop infectious mononucleosis annually, and about 10% meet criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) 6 months following IM. We developed a SOM scale based on a review of the literature. College students were enrolled, generally when they were healthy. When the students developed IM an assessment was made as to the severity of their IM independently by two physicians using the SOM scale. This scale was correlated with corticosteroid use and hospitalization. Six months following IM an assessment is made for recovery from IM or meeting one or more case definitions of CFS.Results: 126 SOM scales were analyzed. The concordance between the two physician reviewers was 95%. All three hospitalized subjects had SOM scores ≥2. Subjects with SOM scores of ≥1 were 1.83 times as likely to be given corticosteroids. Students with SOM scores of 0 or 1 were less likely to meet more than one case definition of CFS six months following IM. Conclusions:The SOM scale has interobserver, concurrent and predictive validity for hospitalization, corticosteroid use and meeting criteria for CFS 6 months following IM. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) is a complex condition involving severe fatigue and disabling cognitive and musculoskeletal symptoms [1][2][3][4]. Six months following IM, ~10% of adolescents or young adults meet criteria for CFS [5][6][7].One to 5% of college students develop acute infectious mononucleosis (IM) annually [8]. In an attempt to understand why about 10% of young adults meet criteria for CHS following IM, two previous studies related the severity of the acute illness (IM) to the development of

The implications of these findings for employing the substantial reduction criterion in both clinical and research settings are discussed.