The feasibility of a population based study of CFS, IBS and CWP
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Medical and Human Sciences
Abstract
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Technical Summary
This preliminary project is designed to test the feasibility of a method, which we wish to use in a larger programme of research concerning the risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic widespread pain (CWP). These syndromes are common and become seriously disabling in a minority of people but we do not understand why most people presenting to primary care with fatigue, abdominal or joint/muscle pain experience a short-lived episode whereas a minority go on to develop persistent symptoms. Our eventual aim is to understand whether the same psychological and social risk factors predict onset and persistence of all three syndromes and predict also markedly impaired function and high healthcare and other costs. We wish to determine also the psychological mediators of the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and symptom persistence as these are potentially modifiable in psychological treatment. This increased understanding should facilitate the development of early, cost-effective treatments in primary care. We wish to include in our main study biological risk factors, such as altered cortisol metabolism, but that will be the focus of a further application to the Neuroscience and Mental Health Board.
This feasibility project of 3,000 people in the general population will a) confirm that we can achieve, in a population-based sample, a high response rate to a questionnaire that includes sensitive questions b) assess whether we can detect accurately new episodes of symptoms of fatigue, abdominal or joint/muscle pain presenting to general practice among people who do not already have existing syndrome, c) assess whether we can successfully follow-up these people 6 months later to determine whether these symptoms have become persistent and the full syndrome of CFS, IBS or CWP has developed, d) determine whether in this sample the data and opinion recorded in the GP?s records, including relevant investigation results, are adequate to be confident about the diagnosis or whether there is still serious doubt about a possible organic disease underlying the symptoms, and e) compare the SF36 and EQ5D as outcome measures with descriptions by service users with these disorders.
This feasibility project of 3,000 people in the general population will a) confirm that we can achieve, in a population-based sample, a high response rate to a questionnaire that includes sensitive questions b) assess whether we can detect accurately new episodes of symptoms of fatigue, abdominal or joint/muscle pain presenting to general practice among people who do not already have existing syndrome, c) assess whether we can successfully follow-up these people 6 months later to determine whether these symptoms have become persistent and the full syndrome of CFS, IBS or CWP has developed, d) determine whether in this sample the data and opinion recorded in the GP?s records, including relevant investigation results, are adequate to be confident about the diagnosis or whether there is still serious doubt about a possible organic disease underlying the symptoms, and e) compare the SF36 and EQ5D as outcome measures with descriptions by service users with these disorders.
