Source
MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF. harriet.ball@kcl.ac.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Fatigue is a common symptom in Western high-income countries but is often medically unexplained and little is known about its presentation in other populations.
AIMS:
To explore the epidemiology and aetiology of fatigue in Sri Lanka, and of its overlap with depression.
METHOD:
A total of 4024 randomly selected twins from a population-based register in Sri Lanka (Colombo district) completed home interviews including the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire.
RESULTS:
The prevalence of fatigue was similar to that in other countries, although prolonged fatigue may be less common. There was substantial comorbidity with a screen for lifetime depression. Non-shared environmental factors made the largest contributions, although genetic/family factors also contributed. The aetiology appeared consistent across the spectrum of severity.
CONCLUSIONS:
The aetiology of fatigue is broadly similar in Sri Lanka and Western high-income countries. Abnormal experiences of fatigue appear to be the extreme form of more common fatigue, rather than representing independent entities with different genetic or environmental risk factors.