How to Treat: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - assessment answers

1. What is the approximate prevalence of ME/CFS?
b. 0.85 per cent

2. Which of the following symptoms is seen in young patients with depression/anxiety disorders but is not seen in ME/CFS?
a. anhedonia

3. Gregg is a 20-year-old apprentice electrician who comes to see you with the following symptoms. Which THREE of them are listed in the Institute of Medicine’s 2015 diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS?
c. orthostatic intolerance
e. post-exertional malaise
f. unrefreshing sleep

4. Which feature is unique to ME/CFS and can be thought of as a defining symptom.
d. post-exertional malaise

5. What kind of exertion can result in post-exertional malaise?
d. any of the above

6. How soon after exertion does post-exertional malaise typically occur?
c. 24 to 72 hours

7. While most people have an acute onset of ME/CFS, what percentage describe a gradual or stepwise progression with no obvious trigger?
c. 25 per cent

8. ME/CFS occurs on a spectrum of severity. Approximately what percentage of people with ME/CFS are considered severely ill?
c. 20 per cent

9. Which of these statements regarding ME/CFS is NOT correct?
b. most people with ME/CFS will eventually recover their pre-illness functioning

10. Which of the following is NOT a recommended strategy for managing ME/CFS?
b. graded exercise therapy

11. Which of the following statements best describes pacing?
d. when the sum of all daily activities stays well beneath the threshold at which exertion elicits post-exertional malaise

12. Which of the following is the standard first-line strategy for managing orthostatic intolerance?
b. increase fluid intake