Research with children and adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: methodologies, designs, and special considerations.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in children and adolescents presents unique challenges and opportunities to researchers. Issues specific to research conducted on children and adolescents with CFS are discussed. Such issues include the importance of utilizing a consistent definition of CFS and ascertaining that all participants meet with the criteria, the need for attention to wording of questions regarding fatigue, the significance of medical evaluations as part of a research study. Considerations pertaining to research with minors, such as confidentiality and assent, are explored. Finally, suggestions for future research on children is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]