The role of psychiatry in diagnosis and treatment of paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome – a scoping literature review

• Published in: International journal of adolescent medicine and health Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 243 - 250
• Main Authors: Dolp, Reinhard, Wardle, David PR, Khalid-Khan, Sarosh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 01.06.2023; Walter de Gruyter GmbH
• Subjects: Adolescent; adolescent mental health; Child; Child & adolescent mental health; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Comorbidity; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - diagnosis; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - therapy; Grey literature; Health Status; Humans; Medical diagnosis; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - therapy; pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome; Pediatrics; Psychiatrists; Psychiatry; Teenagers; pediatric chronic fatigue syndrome; adolescent mental health; psychiatry
• ISSN: 2191-0278; 0334-0139; 2191-0278
• DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2023-0030

Paediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (pCFS) is a common condition that significantly disrupts a healthy psychosocial development. Psychiatric symptoms associated with pCFS are conceptualized as either part of its complex etiology, its consequence, or as a comorbidity. However, patients with this condition are rarely seen by psychiatrists. This scoping review aims to explore the role of psychiatry in the diagnosis and treatment of pCFS. A scoping review of literature was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and PsycINFO. Databases were searched for articles describing psychiatric involvement in the diagnosis or treatment of children and adolescents (age ≤ 18) with pCFS. A grey literature search was also conducted to identify additional guidelines and national recommendations to identify the role of psychiatry in the diagnosis and treatment of pCFS. The search provided 436 articles of which 16 met inclusion criteria. Grey literature search identified 12 relevant guidelines. Most studies and guidelines did not include any psychiatric involvement in the care of patients with pCFS. If psychiatry was mentioned, it was used interchangeably with psychological interventions or in the context of treating distinct psychiatric comorbidities and suicidal ideation. The role of psychiatry in diagnosis and treatment of pCFS is poorly defined. Future research is required to understand how psychiatrists can contribute to the care of patients with pCFS.