Buchwald, D, Pearlman, T, Kith, P et al. · Journal of psychosomatic research · 1997 · DOI
This study looked at how common mental health conditions are in people with chronic fatigue and ME/CFS, and tested whether a simple questionnaire could help identify these conditions. Researchers interviewed 281 patients and found that about one-third had a current mental health disorder, while over 80% had experienced one at some point in their lives. A screening tool called the General Health Questionnaire performed reasonably well at spotting current psychiatric conditions, though it wasn't perfect.
Understanding the relationship between psychiatric conditions and ME/CFS is important because these comorbidities can complicate diagnosis and treatment. This study provides practical evidence that a simple screening questionnaire can help identify patients who may benefit from mental health assessment, potentially improving overall clinical care. Clarifying whether psychiatric conditions are primary, secondary, or independent factors in ME/CFS remains crucial for targeted interventions.
This study does not establish whether psychiatric disorders cause ME/CFS, result from it, or occur independently. The cross-sectional design cannot determine temporal relationships or causality. The findings also may not generalize to ME/CFS patients in the community or primary care settings, as this was a referral clinic population that may have higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Buchwald, D, Pearlman, T, Kith, P, Katon, W, & Schmaling, K (1997). Screening for psychiatric disorders in chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.. Journal of psychosomatic research. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3999(96)00234-6
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-buchwald-1997-screening-psychiatric,
author = {Buchwald, D and Pearlman, T and Kith, P and Katon, W and Schmaling, K},
title = {Screening for psychiatric disorders in chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Journal of psychosomatic research},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1016/s0022-3999(96)00234-6},
note = {PubMed: 9055216},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/buchwald-1997-screening-psychiatric},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/buchwald-1997-screening-psychiatric
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