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Self-critical perfectionism and its relationship to fatigue and pain in the daily flow of life in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2012

S. Kempke ,
P. Luyten ,
S. Claes ,
L. Goossens ,
P. Bekaert ,
P. Van Wambeke  and
B. Van Houdenhove
S. Kempke*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium
P. Luyten
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK
S. Claes
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium
L. Goossens
Affiliation:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reference Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium
P. Bekaert
Affiliation:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reference Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium
P. Van Wambeke
Affiliation:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reference Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium
B. Van Houdenhove
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Reference Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Belgium
*
*Address for correspondence: S. Kempke, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. (Email: [email protected])
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Background

Research suggests that the personality factor of self-critical or maladaptive perfectionism may be implicated in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, it is not clear whether self-critical perfectionism (SCP) also predicts daily symptoms in CFS.

Method

In the present study we investigated whether SCP predicted fatigue and pain over a 14-day period in a sample of 90 CFS patients using a diary method approach. After completing the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) as a measure of SCP, patients were asked each day for 14 days to complete Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) of fatigue, pain and severity of depression. Data were analysed using multilevel analysis.

Results

The results from unconditional models revealed considerable fluctuations in fatigue over the 14 days, suggesting strong temporal variability in fatigue. By contrast, pain was relatively stable over time but showed significant inter-individual differences. Congruent with expectations, fixed-effect models showed that SCP was prospectively associated with higher daily fatigue and pain levels over the 14-day period, even after controlling for levels of depression.

Conclusions

This is the first study to show that SCP predicts both fatigue and pain symptoms in CFS in the daily course of life. Hence, therapeutic interventions aimed at targeting SCP should be considered in the treatment of CFS patients with such features.

Keywords

Chronic fatiguedepressiondiary methodologyfibromyalgiapainpersonality
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 5 , May 2013 , pp. 995 - 1002
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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