Pain Perception in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

AbstractPain complaints (myalgia, arthralgia, headache, sore throat) are commonly associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), yet to date, these patients' responses to standardized measures of pain perception have not been investigated. Pain perception was measured by pressure dolorimeter and ice water cold prcssor tests, and the McGili Pain Questionnaire among 15 female subjects with CFS, 11 subjects with Major Depression and 11 healthy controls. No differences were found between the groups for pain threshold or intolerance levels on the pressure dolorimeter and cold pressor tests. CFS and depressed subjects endorsed significantly more self-reported pain complaints than did control subjects. Although more pain complaints were predicted by greater somatization and lower health perceptions, pain threshold and intolerance were not associated with psychiatric symptoms or functional status. The study yielded some interesting preliminary observations related to variability in pain tolerance among CFS patie...