On the relation between dimensions of fatigue and depression in adolescents and young adults with acquired brain injury

Abstract

Complaints of fatigue following acquired brain injury (ABI) are often associated with depression. However, the nature of this relationship is unclear; furthermore, research among young people with ABI is limited. The objective of this cross-sectional study was (1) to investigate levels of depression in young outpatients with ABI (15-30 years old) and (2) to determine how different dimensions of fatigue relate to depression. Five dimensions of fatigue were assessed with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), and depression was assessed with the Major Depression Inventory (MDI). Mann-Whitney U-tests and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The ABI group (n = 105), on average 23.7 years old (SD = 4.2) and 31 months post-injury (SD = 61), had elevated levels of fatigue and depression compared to a convenience sample of 160 healthy controls, all p's < .001. In multivariate analyses, the predominantly mental dimensions of fatigue, General Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, and Reduced Motivation, were independently associated with MDI, all p's < .01, while the physical dimensions, Physical Fatigue and Reduced Activity, were not. Distinctions within the concept of fatigue may be important in relation to depression, and future research could benefit from adopting a multidimensional approach in the development of more targeted and effective treatments of fatigue and depression following ABI.

Evaluation of Response Processes to the Danish Version of the Dutch Multifactor Fatigue Scale in Stroke Using the Three-Step Test-Interview

“…The experience of fatigue is inherently subjective (Aaronson et al, 1999 ; Staub and Bogousslavsky, 2001a ), and stroke survivors’ perspectives reveal that fatigue is a heterogeneous condition with several characteristics (Eilertsen et al, 2013 ). Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom with multiple potential causes and contributing factors (Krupp, 2003 ), and it is closely related to other common post-stroke conditions such as depression (Ponchel et al, 2015 ; Douven et al, 2017 ; Dornonville de la Cour et al, 2020 ) and sleep disorders (Aarnes et al, 2020 ). Several definitions of fatigue have been proposed (both generic and disease-specific) (Aaronson et al, 1999 ; Staub and Bogousslavsky, 2001a ) without consensus on a standard definition, and various subdomains of fatigue are in use without clear terminology (Kluger et al, 2013 ).…”

Fatigue following pediatric acquired brain injury: Interplay with associated factors in a clinical trial population compared to healthy controls.

“…There is evidence of greater levels of fatigue in BT survivors than other pABI conditions (Brand et al, 2016; Meeske et al, 2004), possibly due to treatment factors. Importantly, fatigue following pABI interferes with daily function, academic performance, and social/school participation, and is linked to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (Berrin et al, 2007; Dornonville de la Cour et al, 2018; Goretti et al, 2012; Macartney et al, 2014). Despite this, studies of fatigue in pABI are scarce.…”

Mental health and fatigue status of the medical workforce during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Yangzhou city, China

“…Fatigue in case of major depression is associated with depressive and insomnia symptoms ( 34 ). Research by Dornonvil le De La Cour et al suggested that general fatigue, mental fatigue, and reduced motivation may be associated with depression ( 35 ). Another study found that depression was independently associated with mental fatigue, reduced motivation, physical fatigue, and reduced activity but not general fatigue ( 36 ).…”