Population based study of fatigue and psychological distress.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of fatigue in the general population and the factors associated with fatigue. Postal survey. Six general practices in southern England. 31,651 men and women aged 18-45 years registered with the practices. Responses to the 12 item general health questionnaire and a fatigue questionnaire which included self reported measures of duration, severity, and causes of fatigue. 15,283 valid questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 48.3%, (64% after adjustment for inaccuracies in the practice registers). 2798 (18.3%) of respondents reported substantial fatigue lasting six months or longer. Fatigue and psychological morbidity were moderately correlated (r = 0.62). Women were more likely to complain of fatigue than men, even after adjustment for psychological distress. The commonest cited reasons for fatigue were psychosocial (40% of patients). Of 2798 patients with excessive tiredness, only 38 (1.4%) attributed this to the chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatigue is distributed as a continuous variable in the community and is closely associated with psychological morbidity.