University of Colorado Denver

PROJECT TITLE:
Herrell Supplement: Chronic Fatigue and Its Psychiatric Co-Morbidity in Three Minority Populations 

FUNDING SOURCE: 
NIMH

DATES OF FUNDING: 
1999-2000

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): 
Richard Herrell, M.A., M.S., Ph.D. candidate

CENTER STAFF INVOLVED:
Richard Herrell, Dedra Buchwald, M.D., Spero Manson, Ph.D.

SPECIFIC AIMS/RESEARCH GOALS:
This project has 3 Specific Aims:

1. To estimate the prevalence of fatigue (of at least one month duration), chronic fatigue (CF) (of at least six months duration), and chronic fatigue syndrome-like illness (CFS as defined by the CDC) in 2 American Indian, and 1 Mexican American population-based sample;
2. To determine if fatigue, CF, and CFS-like illness are associated with distinctive characteristics of American Indian and Mexican American populations such as demographic variables, tribal affiliation, degree of acculturation, etc.;
3. To describe the patterns of comorbidity of fatigue with psychiatric disorders in these two populations, overall and within age- and gender-specific categories.

The analysis will use data collected by the AI-SUPERPFP and Mexican American Prevalence and Services Survey (Fresno, CA) studies.   Algorithms have been developed to categorize persons with respect to the CDC classification of fatigue and chronic fatigue.   The rates and associations listed in the specific aims will be calculated using this categorization of the participants.

The samples are those of the AI-SUPERPFP (Southwest and Northern Plains) and MAPSS studies.

1. Fatigue and the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
2. Checklists of medical disorders.
3. Symptom checklist (AI-SUPERPFP).
4. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (MAPSS).
5. CIDI output variables for psychiatric disorders.
6. Demographic and cultural information.

None at this time