Fuller-Thomson, Esme, Nimigon, Jodie · Family practice · 2008 · DOI
This study looked at how often depression occurs in people with ME/CFS and what factors make depression more likely. Researchers surveyed over 1,000 Canadians with ME/CFS and found that about 1 in 3 people with the condition also had depression. Depression was more common in women, younger people, those with lower incomes, and those who experienced significant pain.
This study provides important epidemiological data on depression prevalence in ME/CFS using a community rather than clinical sample, which may better represent the full spectrum of the disease. Understanding which subgroups are at highest risk for depression helps clinicians identify patients who need mental health screening and support, potentially improving overall outcomes and reducing suicide risk.
This study does not establish whether depression causes worse ME/CFS outcomes, whether ME/CFS causes depression, or whether both share a common underlying mechanism. The cross-sectional design cannot determine causality. Additionally, the study relies on self-reported CFS diagnosis from survey responses, which may not reflect standardized diagnostic criteria used in clinical research.
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 →
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Primary citation
Fuller-Thomson, Esme & Nimigon, Jodie (2008). Factors associated with depression among individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: findings from a nationally representative survey.. Family practice. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmn064
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-fuller-thomson-2008-factors-associated,
author = {Fuller-Thomson, Esme and Nimigon, Jodie},
title = {Factors associated with depression among individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome: findings from a nationally representative survey.},
journal = {Family practice},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1093/fampra/cmn064},
note = {PubMed: 18836094},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/fuller-thomson-2008-factors-associated},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/fuller-thomson-2008-factors-associated
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