Kempke, Stefan, Van Den Eede, Filip, Schotte, Chris et al. · International journal of behavioral medicine · 2013 · DOI
This study tested whether people with ME/CFS have more personality disorders than the general population. Researchers gave 92 women with ME/CFS and two comparison groups (92 community members and 92 psychiatric patients) a questionnaire about personality traits. The results showed that ME/CFS patients had personality disorder rates similar to healthy people, not higher rates, though they did show some depressive and obsessive-compulsive traits.
This research directly addresses a common misconception that ME/CFS is primarily a psychological or personality disorder. By demonstrating that ME/CFS patients have personality disorder rates similar to the general population, it supports the view that ME/CFS is a distinct medical condition, not a manifestation of underlying personality pathology.
This study does not establish causation or demonstrate whether any observed personality features are a cause or consequence of ME/CFS. The cross-sectional design cannot determine temporal relationships, and findings in this female-only sample may not generalize to male patients with ME/CFS.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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