Chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic fatigue, and psychiatric disorders: predictors of functional status in a national nursing sample.
Members of 2 nurses' associations (N = 71) were assessed using 2 mail questionnaires, a telephone questionnaire, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, and medical records. Physicians reviewed participants to determine whether they met current criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Stepwise multivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of functional status scores. Impairments in physical, role, and social functioning increased as fatigue severity increased. Bodily pain increased as fatigue severity increased, and ratings of overall health increased as severity of fatigue decreased. Nurses with a current psychiatric diagnosis reported more impairments in emotional functioning than nurses with a lifetime diagnosis or no psychiatric diagnosis. Quality of life decreased as fatigue severity increased. Nurses with fatigue not meeting CFS criteria reported better quality of life than those with CFS or medical exclusions.