Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey

Holtzman, Carly S.; Bhatia, Shaun; Cotler, Joseph; Jason, Leonard A.

doi:10.3390/diagnostics9010026

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey

by

Carly S. Holtzman

,

Shaun Bhatia

,

Joseph Cotler

and

Leonard A. Jason

^*

Center for Community Research, Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL 60604, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Diagnostics 2019, 9(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9010026

Submission received: 1 February 2019 / Revised: 25 February 2019 / Accepted: 26 February 2019 / Published: 2 March 2019

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Insights that Inform the Diagnosis of ME/CFS)

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Abstract

Considerable controversy has existed with efforts to assess post-exertional malaise (PEM), which is one of the defining features of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). While a number of self-report questionnaires have been developed to assess this symptom, none have been comprehensive, and a recent federal government report has recommended the development of a new PEM measure. The current study involved a community-based participatory research process in an effort to develop a comprehensive PEM instrument, with critical patient input shaping the item selection and overall design of the tool. A survey was ultimately developed and was subsequently completed by 1534 members of the patient community. The findings of this survey suggest that there are key domains of this symptom, including triggers, symptom onset, and duration, which have often not been comprehensively assessed in a previous PEM instrument. This study indicates that there are unique benefits that can be derived from patients collaborating with researchers in the measurement of key symptoms defining ME and CFS.

Keywords: myalgic encephalomyelitis; chronic fatigue syndrome; post-exertional malaise; assessment; patient-driven questionnaire; participatory research

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MDPI and ACS Style

Holtzman, C.S.; Bhatia, S.; Cotler, J.; Jason, L.A. Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey. Diagnostics 2019, 9, 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9010026

AMA Style

Holtzman CS, Bhatia S, Cotler J, Jason LA. Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey. Diagnostics. 2019; 9(1):26. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9010026

Chicago/Turabian Style

Holtzman, Carly S., Shaun Bhatia, Joseph Cotler, and Leonard A. Jason. 2019. "Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey" Diagnostics 9, no. 1: 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9010026

APA Style

Holtzman, C. S., Bhatia, S., Cotler, J., & Jason, L. A. (2019). Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey. Diagnostics, 9(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics9010026

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Assessment of Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Patient-Driven Survey

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