Illness experience, depression, and anxiety in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Objective: Given the high rate of psychiatric comorbidity with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we considered two possible correlates of anxiety and depression: lack of illness legitimization and beliefs about limiting physical activity.

Method: A total of 105 people diagnosed with CFS reported on their experiences with medical professionals and their beliefs about recovery and completed the depression and anxiety subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory.

Results: Those who said that their physician did not legitimize their illness (36%) had higher depression and anxiety scores (P's<.