Functional Incapacity and Physical and Psychological Symptoms: How They Interconnect in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Background: It has been argued that perceived functional incapacity might be a primary characteristic of chronic fatigue syndrome ( CFS) and could be explained by physical symptoms. If so, it could be expected to be closely associated with physical, but not psychological symptoms. The study tests this hypothesis. Sampling and Methods: The sample consisted of 73 patients, with a diagnosis of CFS according to the Oxford criteria, randomly selected from clinics in the Departments of Immunology and Psychiatry at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. The degree of fatigue experienced by patients was assessed using the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire and a visual analogue scale. Self-rated instruments were used to measure physical and social functioning, quality of life, and physical and psychological symptoms. Results: Principal-component analysis of all scale scores revealed 2 distinct components, explaining 53% of the total variance. One component was characterized by psychological symptoms and generic quality of life indicators, whilst the other component was made up of physical symptoms, social and physical functioning and indicators of fatigue. Conclusions: The findings suggest that perceived functional incapacity is a primary characteristic of CFS, which is manifested and/or explained by physical symptoms. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Base

Det mørke Jylland.: Et dansk landskab i en brydningstid

I perioden fra ca. 1750-1850 kom Vest- og Midtjylland til at gennemgå en forvandling, hvis lige ikke er set i Danmark i historisk tid. På rekordtid blev de jyske heder omskabt fra lyngklædte ødemarker til kornbølgende indmarker, omkranset af levende hegn.  Al ting var dog ikke dårligt før denne forvandling. Således havde nogle bønder et stykke god eng, som kunne skaffe græsning og vinterfoder til deres stude, som var en glimrende handelsvare og tilmed gav staldgødning, så man kunne dyrke agerjorden. Lyngheden indeholdt også mange ressourcer som f.eks. lyng til tækkemateriale, men forfatteren påpeger, at den traditionelle afbrænding af lyngheden ville have medført en økologisk katastrofe, hvis ikke myndighederne havde grebet ind.  &nbsp