Biomedical subjects

Susan Torres-Harding

Publications and source records attributed to Susan Torres-Harding.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Causes of death among patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness affecting thousands of individuals. At the present time, there are few studies that have investigated causes of death for those with this syndrome. The authors analyzed a memorial list tabulated by the National CFIDS Foundation of 166 deceased individuals who had had CFS. There were approximately three times more women than men on the list. The three most prevalent causes of death were heart failure, suicide, and cancer, which accounted for 59.6% of all deaths. The mean age of those who died from cancer and suicide was 47.8 and 39.3 years, respectively, which is considerably younger than those who died from cancer and suicide in the general population. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Accidents↗

PubMed2006

Differential diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and major depressive disorder.

The goal of this study was to identify variables that successfully differentiated patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, major depressive disorder, and controls. Fifteen participants were recruited for each of these three groups, and discriminant function analyses were conducted. Using symptom occurrence and severity data from the Fukuda et al. (1994) definitional criteria, the best predictors were postexertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and impaired memory-concentration. Symptom occurrence variables only correctly classified 84.4% of cases, whereas 91.1% were correctly classified when using symptom severity ratings. Finally, when using percentage of time fatigue reported, postexertional malaise severity, unrefreshing sleep severity, confusion-disorientation severity, shortness of breath severity, and self-reproach to predict group membership, 100% were classified correctly.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Preventive psychology in primary care settings.

This article will describe some of the more promising types of preventive interventions that exist in primary health care settings. It will present a rationale for practicing psychologists to consider issues of prevention when working in health care settings. Approaches to prevention and the integration of preventive measures into primary care will be presented, as well as examples of the implementation of innovative prevention programs. This article will conclude with examples and recommendations for primary care psychologists who wish to become more involved with prevention. EDITORS' STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: The authors provide useful information and suggestions both for individual psychologists interested in focusing on individual-level interventions, as well as larger-scale interventions that present more challenges to implement, but also provide greater benefits to community health and well-being. Health care professionals and administrators could discern why and how to involve psychologists in their prevention efforts.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

Chronic fatigue syndrome: the need for subtypes.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an important condition confronting patients, clinicians, and researchers. This article provides information concerning the need for appropriate diagnosis of CFS subtypes. We first review findings suggesting that CFS is best conceptualized as a separate diagnostic entity rather than as part of a unitary model of functional somatic distress. Next, research involving the case definitions of CFS is reviewed. Findings suggest that whether a broad or more conservative case definition is employed, and whether clinic or community samples are recruited, these decisions will have a major influence in the types of patients selected. Review of further findings suggests that subtyping individuals with CFS on sociodemographic, functional disability, viral, immune, neuroendocrine, neurology, autonomic, and genetic biomarkers can provide clarification for researchers and clinicians who encounter CFS' characteristically confusing heterogeneous symptom profiles. Treatment studies that incorporate subtypes might be particularly helpful in better understanding the pathophysiology of CFS. This review suggests that there is a need for greater diagnostic clarity, and this might be accomplished by subgroups that integrate multiple variables including those in cognitive, emotional, and biological domains.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed2004

Chronic fatigue syndrome impairs circadian rhythm of activity level.

Some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are the same as for disrupted circadian rhythm. Activity level is frequently used to study circadian rhythm. Continuous waist activity measurements taken every minute 24 h/day for from 5 to 7 days in 10 controls and from 2 to 7 days in 8 patients with CFS yielded two primary findings: (a) lower daytime activity and (b) less regular activity-rest cycles in persons with CFS than in controls.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Chronic fatigue syndrome: symptom subtypes in a community based sample.

Most studies of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have been based on patients recruited from primary or tertiary care settings. Patients from such settings might not be typical of patients in the general population. The present investigation involved examining individuals with CFS from a community-based study. A random sample of 18,675 respondents in Chicago were first interviewed by telephone. A group of individuals with chronic fatigue accompanied by at least four Fukuda et al. (1994) symptoms associated with CFS were given medical and psychiatric examinations. From this sample, a physician review group diagnosed individuals with CFS. Those diagnosed with CFS were subclassified based on frequency of symptoms. Important differences emerged on measures of sociodemographics and disability. The implications of these findings and others are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Chronic fatigue syndrome versus neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome:differential attributions.

Since 1988, when the term chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) was coined, considerable discussion has occurred about stigma associated with this diagnostic term. In particular, patients with CFS have felt that this term trivializes the serious nature of this disorder. A Name Change Work group, appointed by the CFS Coordinating Committee, developed an umbrella term: chronic neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome (CNDS), and proposed that there would be sub-types under this term, one being CFS. The present study examined attributions of this new umbrella term when compared with CFS. Nurses and physician assistants (PAs) were presented a case study of a patient with symptoms of CFS. They were told that the patient had either "chronic fatigue syndrome," "chronic neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome," or "chronic neuroendocrineimmune dysfunction syndrome, which had formerly been called chronic fatigue syndrome." The different terms led to different attributions, with PA respondents rating the "CNDS" label as more severe. Results suggest that a more medical sounding term (CNDS) may lead to attributions that this syndrome is a more serious, disabling illness. The policy implications of these findings are discussed.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed2002

A factor analysis of chronic fatigue symptoms in a community-based sample.

BACKGROUND: This study examined characteristics of fatigue in individuals with chronic fatigue from a community-based study. Most studies of chronic fatigue have been based on patients recruited from primary or tertiary care settings. Samples such as these might not be representative of patients within the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the factor structure of participants' symptoms in a random community sample of individuals with chronic fatigue. METHOD: A random sample of 18,675 respondents in Chicago received a brief telephone questionnaire designed to identify individuals with chronic fatigue. A group of 780 (4.2%) with chronic fatigue received further interview via telephone questionnaire involving characteristics of their fatigue. The analyses for this study were based on those people identified with having chronic fatigue. A factor analysis was conducted on responses to questionnaire items, and a four-factor solution emerged. Mean factor scores were derived and analyzed in relation to sociodemographic characteristics and sample subgroups. RESULTS: The four factors were labeled: Lack of Energy, Physical Exertion, Cognitive Functioning, and Fatigue and Rest. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that individuals with chronic fatigue have symptoms that can be differentiated into theoretically distinct factors.

Adult↗