Depressive and anxiety symptoms in current, previous, and no history of ME/CFS: NHIS 2022 analysis

Zoe Sirotiak; Jenna L Adamowicz; Emily B K Thomas

doi:10.1007/s11136-024-03854-2

Depressive and anxiety symptoms in current, previous, and no history of ME/CFS: NHIS 2022 analysis

Qual Life Res. 2024 Nov 23. doi: 10.1007/s11136-024-03854-2. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zoe Sirotiak^{1

2}, Jenna L Adamowicz^{3

4}, Emily B K Thomas⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. [email protected].
² Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. [email protected].
³ Pain Research, Informatics, Multimorbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System: West Haven, West Haven, CT, USA.
⁴ Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.

PMID: 39579271
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-024-03854-2

Abstract

Purpose: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Psychological symptoms are predisposing factors for, as well as symptoms of, ME/CFS. Recovery from ME/CFS is poorly understood and heterogenous, and it is unclear how psychological symptoms may change with recovery. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of depressive and anxious symptoms among individuals with current, previous, and no history of ME/CFS.

Methods: National Health Interview Survey 2022 data were analyzed to assess ME/CFS status, as well as anxiety and depression burden. Adults (unweighted N = 27,651) in the United States reported sociodemographic and health behavior characteristics, with 453 adults reporting current ME/CFS, while 119 reported previous ME/CFS. Sample weights and variance estimation variables were implemented. Multivariable linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between ME/CFS status and anxiety and depression severity after adjusting for sociodemographic and health behavior variables.

Results: Participants were on average 48.1 years of age, and most identified as female (51.3%), white (76.6%), and not Hispanic or Latine (82.8%). Current and previous ME/CFS were associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to individuals with no history of ME/CFS. Clinically significant levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms were substantial for individuals with current (37.6%; 49.0%) and previous (26.5%; 33.4%) ME/CFS compared to individuals with no history of ME/CFS (6.1%; 6.7%).

Conclusion: ME/CFS, regardless of current presence, was related to significantly greater anxiety and depressive symptom burden.

Keywords: Anxiety; Chronic fatigue; Depression; ME/CFS; Myalgic encephalomyelitis; Recovery.

Plain language summary

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has been associated with significant levels of anxiety and depression; however, it is unclear how the experience of psychological symptoms may change over time, including as individuals recover from ME/CFS. This study assesses reported levels of anxiety and depression across individuals with current ME/CFS, previous ME/CFS, and no history of ME/CFS. Our results indicate that individuals with both current and previous ME/CFS report high proportions of clinically significant anxiety and depression compared to individuals with no history of ME/CFS. The results of our study indicate that psychological symptoms are an important consideration in the context of ME/CFS, regardless of current presence.