Comparison of Activity Limitations/Participation Restrictions Among Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are related yet overlapping disorders; the current case definitions prohibit a clear-cut differential diagnosis. These diagnostic criteria mainly address the impairment level of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. This study aimed at comparing activity limitations and participation restrictions in patients with FM (n = 90) and CFS (n = 47). The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Activities and Participation Questionnaire (CFS-APQ) was used for assessing functionality in both groups. The convergent validity of the scores obtained with the questionnaire with visual analogue scales for pain, fatigue and concentration was investigated in FM patients, as well as the content validity. No differences in total scores and 25 out of 26 individual items on the CFS-APQ were observed between the 2 groups (independent samples Mann-Whitney U test). This sample of FM patients reported to be more disabled in ...