Sleep problems in adolescents with CFS: A case-control study nested within a prospective clinical cohort

Maria Elizabeth Loades*, Katharine A. Rimes, Trudie Chalder

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sleep problems have a negative impact on a range of outcomes and are very common in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We aimed to (a) establish whether adolescents with CFS have more self-reported sleep problems than illness controls as well as healthy controls, (b) investigate changes in sleep problems and (c) explore the extent to which sleep problems at baseline predict fatigue and functioning at follow-up in adolescents with CFS. The Insomnia Scale was completed by 121 adolescents with CFS, 78 healthy adolescents and 27 adolescents with asthma. Eighty (66%) treatment-naïve adolescents with CFS completed questionnaires approximately 3 months later. Adolescents with CFS reported increased sleep problems compared to healthy controls and adolescents with asthma. In CFS, there was no significant change in sleep problems without treatment over a 3-month follow-up. Sleep problems at baseline predicted a significant proportion of the variance in sleep problems at follow-up. Sleep problems should be targeted in treatment. Regulating the ‘body clock’ via the regulation of sleep could influence outcomes not assessed in this study such as school attainment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)816-832
Number of pages17
JournalClinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • chronic fatigue syndrome
  • fatigue
  • insomnia
  • sleep

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