We are now working on a book on CFS that will include the
findings from our survey research. There may also be some short monographs
and other useful information on CFS and related conditions based on our
investigations. If you would like to get on our Chronic Fatigue /
Fibromyalgia mailing list, please send me an email (you can click the link)
stating that you wish to be on the list:
E-Mail: Jeffrey Owen Katz, Ph.D.:
jeffkatz@scientific-consultants.com
NOTE: We never share or sell our email lists; they are always kept
completely confidential. You do not need to be worried about spam or of
being flooded with emails.
You can contribute to our knowledge of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and related syndromes by participating in statistical, survey-based studies. For this research, we need responses from those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), ME, CFIDS, and related conditions. We also need data from healthy individuals, and from those with other medical conditions, to provide baselines and contrast.
If you wish to participate in these investigations, there are several questionnaires that you may complete on-line. The data from these questionaires will help us determine which treatments may be effective for, and better delineate the key symptoms and nature of, CFS, FM, and related illnesses. All research findings will be posted on this site as soon as sufficient data are available for analysis.
If you decide to participate in our research, here are some things you should know:
All responses are completely anonymous. No information that can identify the respondent is ever recorded. Data sets are identified only by a unique ID Code created by and for the respondent, and known only to him or her, just like a password.
Respondents may complete as few or as many of the checklists and questionnaires as they wish. These may be completed at one sitting or at different times. As long as the same ID Code is used when completing the forms (strongly suggested), data from different checklists can be identified as belonging to the same individual (helpful for cross analysis).
All derived measures, scores and profiles (including symptom factor scores) will be accessible to the respondent when sufficient data to compute such scores and profiles has been acquired. All general research findings will be posted on this site for the benefit of all concerned.
Below are links to some of the questionnaires and surveys that you may complete on-line to help us learn more about chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and related illnesses:
For those with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalitis, or related condition:
Treatment Effectiveness Survey
This survey examines the effectiveness (or lack thereof)
of a wide variety of treatments, both traditional and
alternative, for FM, CFS, and ME. Included in the survey are
therapies involving everything from guaifenisin, thyroid hormone,
NADH, and antibiotics to hyperbaric oxygen, whey, B12 injections
and yoga. The survey is intended only for those who suffer from
fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or other related condition.
The findings regarding the relative reported benefit of the
various treatments should be of immediate value to anyone
suffering from these debilitating conditions.
For those with the above illnesses as well as for controls (those in good health or with medical conditions other than chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia):
Symptom Factor Questionnaire
This questionnaire explores the frequency and intensity of a
wide range of symptoms, many of them associated with CFS and FM,
others associated with diseases easily misidentified as CFS or FM,
and, to provide contrast when factor analyzing the data, some
associated with conditions having no relationship to CFS or FM.
A personal factor score profile is available to anyone who
completes this survey. It provides scores for many distinct
clusters of symptoms, among them a fatigue cluster, a muscle
cluster (knots, spasms, pain, etc.), a cognitive cluster
(fibrofog, memory problems, confusion, etc.), a gastrointestinal
cluster (IBS, reflux, distension, etc.) and a hypothyroid cluster.
This survey may be completed by anyone, whether or not they suffer
from CFS or FM.
Results of our research will be posted as data become available. Both general findings and personal profiles may be accessed on this site. To retrieve individual-specific or personal data, the ID Code used when completing the questionnaire(s) will be required.
General Research Findings
Coming Soon!
Individual Scores and Profiles
Profiles and other personal data can be generated for some of the
questionnaires and surveys at this site. Such profiles can provide
you with useful information about yourself and your symptoms.
Note that these scores and profiles do not in any way constitute
a medical diagnosis; if you have questions regarding your health,
consult a good, qualified doctor.
Here are some good sites from which you can learn more about chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, CFIDS, ME, and related syndromes.
Interesting Fact: At the turn of the century, neurasthenia was a common disorder. Later, the diagnostic category found its way into the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, or MMPI, which contains a neurasthenia scale. Characterized by undue fatigue on the slightest exertion, the disorder is likely to be the same one known to us today as chronic fatigue syndrome.