Walsh, C M, Zainal, N Z, Middleton, S J et al. · Psychiatric genetics · 2001 · DOI
This study examined whether ME/CFS runs in families by comparing relatives of people with ME/CFS to relatives of people with other medical conditions. Researchers found that relatives of ME/CFS patients were significantly more likely to also have ME/CFS, suggesting that family history and possibly genetics play a role in developing the condition.
This is one of the first studies to formally investigate whether ME/CFS clusters in families using operationally defined diagnostic criteria. If ME/CFS has a familial component, it provides evidence that genetic or shared environmental factors contribute to disease susceptibility, which could guide future research into biological mechanisms and identify at-risk individuals.
This study demonstrates familial clustering but does not prove ME/CFS is genetic versus due to shared environmental factors (infections, lifestyle, stress) within families. The small sample size (25 cases) limits generalizability. It also does not establish the specific genes or mechanisms involved, nor does it confirm causation of depression in ME/CFS.
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
Walsh, C M, Zainal, N Z, Middleton, S J, & Paykel, E S (2001). A family history study of chronic fatigue syndrome.. Psychiatric genetics. https://doi.org/10.1097/00041444-200109000-00003
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-walsh-2001-family-history,
author = {Walsh, C M and Zainal, N Z and Middleton, S J and Paykel, E S},
title = {A family history study of chronic fatigue syndrome.},
journal = {Psychiatric genetics},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1097/00041444-200109000-00003},
note = {PubMed: 11702053},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/walsh-2001-family-history},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/walsh-2001-family-history
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