Table 3.
Description of the valid and reliable questionnaires to measure the symptoms in the CFS/ME and FM groups.
| Variable | Mean score CFS/ME | Mean score FM | Cut-off scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| American CDC symptoms inventory | |||
| Sore throat | 3.79 | 3.59 | |
| Tender lymph nodes and or swollen glands | 4.60 | 4.25 | |
| Fatigue after exertion | 12.43 | 12.99 | |
| Muscle aches and pains | 9.51 | 13.79 | |
| Joint pain | 7.78 | 11.48 | |
| Unrefreshing sleep | 10.97 | 13.19 | |
| Headaches | 6.27 | 6.96 | |
| Memory and or concentration problems | 9.37 | 9.62 | |
| Total degree of distress | 64.72 | 75.87 | N/A |
| FIQ | |||
| Total physical impairment | 57.55 | 64.89 | |
| No of days felt well | 8.28 | 8.49 | |
| No of days missed work | 5.48 | 5.80 | |
| Impact of symptoms on work | 7.04 | 7.50 | |
| How bad pain has been* Mdn | 7.0 | 8.0 | |
| How tired have you been* Mdn | 9.0 | 9.0 | |
| Feeling in the morning | 6.65 | 7.97 | |
| Morning stiffness* Mdn | 7.0 | 8.0 | |
| How tense/nervous | 4.50 | 5.64 | |
| How depressed or blue | 4.21 | 5.48 | |
| Overall score FIQ | 62.97 | 70.60 | ⩾50 confirmed FM ⩾70 severe FM |
| MPQ | |||
| Number of pain points | 8.49 | 13.59 | |
| Total sensory score | 15.10 | 19.36 | |
| Total affective score | 7.53 | 10.57 | |
| Total evaluative score | 2.89 | 3.76 | |
| Total score miscellaneous | 5.71 | 7.97 | |
| Sum of all dimensions of MPQ | 31.23 | 41.65 | Scores between 24% and 50% of total score confirm severe pain |
| MFI | |||
| Total score general fatigue | 16.60 | 16.83 | |
| Total score physical fatigue | 16.49 | 16.46 | |
| Total score reduced activity | 15.09 | 14.91 | |
| Total score reduced motivation | 12.90 | 13.20 | |
| Total score mental fatigue | 15.13 | 15.20 | |
| PSQI | |||
| Sleep duration | 1.08 | 1.10 | |
| Sleep disturbance | 1.82 | 1.85 | |
| Sleep latency | 1.96 | 1.99 | |
| Day dysfunction due to sleepiness | 2.05 | 2.11 | |
| Sleep efficiency | 1.61 | 1.74 | |
| Overall sleep quality | 2.02 | 1.93 | |
| Medication to sleep | 1.39 | 1.45 | |
| Total score PSQI | 11.94 | 12.18 | ⩾5 poor sleep quality |
| SF-36 V2 | |||
| Physical functioning | 38.81 | 27.10 | |
| Social functioning | 31.44 | 31.78 | |
| Role physical functioning | 23.39 | 22.61 | |
| Role mental functioning | 64.27 | 51.79 | |
| Mental health | 59.65 | 51.82 | |
| Vitality | 14.48 | 13.84 | |
| Pain | 38.29 | 22.42 | |
| General health | 26.07 | 25.85 | |
| Change in health | 41.58 | 30.14 | Scores of 0 best health scores close to 100 poor health |
| HADS | |||
| Total anxiety | 8.52 | 10.60 | |
| Total depression | 8.30 | 10.10 | |
| Total score HADS | 16.82 | 20.70 | ⩽7 no anxiety or depression, 8–9 borderline case, ⩾11 anxiety and depression |
| MHLOC | |||
| Internal sum | 17.66 | 19.03 | |
| Chance | 17.76 | 16.97 | |
| Doctors | 7.46 | 8.10 | |
| Other people | 8.29 | 8.0 | High scores in particular area confirm beliefs in that area |
| RSES | |||
| Total RSES | 14.35 | 15.02 | ⩽15 poor self-esteem |
CFS/ME: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; CDC: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; FM: Fibromyalgia; FIQ: Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire; MPQ: McGill Pain Questionnaire; MFI: Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; SF: short-form; HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; MHLOC: Multidimensional Health Locus of Control; RSES: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.