TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of unexplained fatigue and major depression in the community
T2 - The baltimore ECA follow-up, 1981-1994
AU - Addington, A. M.
AU - Gallo, J. J.
AU - Ford, D. E.
AU - Eaton, W. W.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background. Fatigue is a common, non-specific, subjective symptom associated with several medical and psychiatric illnesses. The purpose of this investigation was to explore further the epidemiology of unexplained fatigue in the general population and the relationship between fatigue and depression. Methods. The design was a prospective population-based study. Subjects included community-dwelling adults who were participants of the Baltimore sample of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program in 1981 and who were reinterviewed 13 years later. Lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule interviewed subjects. Results. Number of somatization symptoms and history of a dysphoric episode at baseline were the two strongest predictors of both new onset of fatigue as well as recurrent/chronic fatigue over the 13-year follow-up interval. In addition, individuals who reported a history of unexplained fatigue at baseline as well as during the follow-up, were at markedly increased risk for new onset major depression as compared to those who never reported such fatigue, (RR = 28.4, 95% CI) (11.7, 68.0). Similarly, respondents who developed new fatigue or had remitted fatigue after 1981 were also at increased risk for developing major depression. Conclusions. Somatization was the strongest predictor of both new and chronic fatigue with unknown cause. In addition, fatigue was both predictive and a consequence of the depression syndrome.
AB - Background. Fatigue is a common, non-specific, subjective symptom associated with several medical and psychiatric illnesses. The purpose of this investigation was to explore further the epidemiology of unexplained fatigue in the general population and the relationship between fatigue and depression. Methods. The design was a prospective population-based study. Subjects included community-dwelling adults who were participants of the Baltimore sample of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program in 1981 and who were reinterviewed 13 years later. Lay interviewers using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule interviewed subjects. Results. Number of somatization symptoms and history of a dysphoric episode at baseline were the two strongest predictors of both new onset of fatigue as well as recurrent/chronic fatigue over the 13-year follow-up interval. In addition, individuals who reported a history of unexplained fatigue at baseline as well as during the follow-up, were at markedly increased risk for new onset major depression as compared to those who never reported such fatigue, (RR = 28.4, 95% CI) (11.7, 68.0). Similarly, respondents who developed new fatigue or had remitted fatigue after 1981 were also at increased risk for developing major depression. Conclusions. Somatization was the strongest predictor of both new and chronic fatigue with unknown cause. In addition, fatigue was both predictive and a consequence of the depression syndrome.
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U2 - 10.1017/S0033291701004214
DO - 10.1017/S0033291701004214
M3 - Article
C2 - 11513371
AN - SCOPUS:0034904033
SN - 0033-2917
VL - 31
SP - 1037
EP - 1044
JO - Psychological medicine
JF - Psychological medicine
IS - 6
ER -