Johnson, Susan K, Schmaling, Karen B, Dmochowski, Jacek et al. · Journal of health psychology · 2010 · DOI
This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS who experienced trauma or abuse—either as children or adults—had worse symptoms or outcomes. Researchers followed 93 patients over time and found that childhood abuse and neglect were more strongly connected to illness severity than adult experiences. However, the connections were modest, and past trauma did not predict whether the illness would get worse over time.
Understanding the relationship between trauma history and ME/CFS severity is important for developing comprehensive treatment approaches that may address both medical and psychological factors. This research helps clinicians recognize that some patients may have concurrent trauma histories that warrant integrated care, while also clarifying that trauma history alone does not explain progressive worsening of ME/CFS.
This study does not establish that trauma causes ME/CFS or definitively explains why some patients are more severely affected. The modest associations and some unexpected findings suggest the relationship is complex and multifactorial. Additionally, the relatively small sample size (93 patients) and correlational design limit generalizability and cannot determine causation.
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
Johnson, Susan K, Schmaling, Karen B, Dmochowski, Jacek, & Bernstein, David (2010). An investigation of victimization and the clinical course of chronic fatigue syndrome.. Journal of health psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105309349453
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-johnson-2010-investigation-victimization,
author = {Johnson, Susan K and Schmaling, Karen B and Dmochowski, Jacek and Bernstein, David},
title = {An investigation of victimization and the clinical course of chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Journal of health psychology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1177/1359105309349453},
note = {PubMed: 20348356},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/johnson-2010-investigation-victimization},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/johnson-2010-investigation-victimization
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