Psychosomatics 42:21-28, February 2001
© 2001 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
Victimization in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia in Tertiary Care
A Controlled Study on Prevalence and Characteristics
Boudewijn Van Houdenhove, M.D.,
Eddy Neerinckx, Ph.D.,
Roeland Lysens , M.D.,
Hans Vertommen, Ph.D.,
Liesbet Van Houdenhove, M.A.,
Patrick Onghena, Ph.D.,
René Westhovens, M.D., and
Marie-Beatrice D'Hooghe, M.D.
Received June 1, 1999; revised September 23, 1999; accepted June 28, 2000. From the Department of Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; and National Centre for Multiple Sclerosis, Melsbroek, Belgium. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Boudewijn Van Houdenhove, Department of Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, University Hospitals K.U.Leuven, Weligerveld 1, B-3212 Pellenberg, Belgium; e-mail: Boudewijn.VanHoudenhove{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be
The authors studied the prevalence and characteristics of different forms of victimization in 95 patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or fibromyalgia (FM) compared with a chronic disease group, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and a matched healthy control group. The authors assessed prevalence rates, nature of victimization (emotional, physical, sexual), life period of occurrence, emotional impact, and relationship with the perpetrator by a self-report questionnaire on burdening experiences. CFS and FM patients showed significantly higher prevalences of emotional neglect and abuse and of physical abuse, with a considerable subgroup experiencing lifelong victimization. The family of origin and the partner were the most frequent perpetrators. With the exception of sexual abuse, victimization was more severely experienced by the CFS/FM group. No differences were found between healthy control subjects or RA/MS patients, and between CFS and FM patients. These findings support etiological hypotheses suggesting a pivotal role for chronic stress in CFS and FM and may have important therapeutic implications.
Key Words: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Fibromyalgia • Victimization
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