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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399925001059?via=ihub
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 193, June 2025, 112141
Multidimensional outcomes associated with chronic fatigue over 12 months in youth with emerging mood disorders
Emiliana Toninia,*, Jacob J. Crousea,1, Mirim Shina, Joanne S. Carpentera, Andrew R. Lloydb, Gabrielle Hindmarsha, Sarah McKennaa, Alissa Nichlesa, Natalia Zmicerevskaa, Jan Scottc, Frank Iorfinoa, Christos Pantelisd,e,f, Barnaby Nelsong,h, Patrick D. McGorryg,h, Stephen J. Woodg,h,i, Alison R. Yungj,k, Rosemary Purcellg,h, Ian B. Hickiea,1
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112141
Open access
Highlights
Background
Complaints of chronic fatigue lasting weeks or longer are common during adolescence. Little is known about factors associated with chronic fatigue in youth with mood disorders or potential sex-specific associations.
Methods
496 young people (mean age = 18.36-years, SD = 3.22; 69 % female) seeking help for mental healthcare were assessed on psychological symptoms, lifestyle, and sleep at baseline and 12-months later. Fatigue was defined as a score of ≥3 on the somatic subscale of the Somatic and Psychological Health Report. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between clinical, lifestyle, and related factors and chronic fatigue caseness, including main effects and sex interactions.
Results
Half (52 % [N = 260]) of the sample reported fatigue at both baseline and 12-month follow-up (“chronic fatigue”). Univariately, chronic fatigue cases were more commonly at later clinical stages of mental disorder and had worse mental health, sleep disturbance, and disability at baseline and follow-up. In covariate-adjusted analyses, being a chronic fatigue case was associated with persistently elevated anxiety and, at 12-month follow-up, more disability, weight gain, and shorter sleep duration. In sex-interaction analyses, chronic fatigue in females was associated with longer sleep latency at follow-up (OR = 1.97), but not in males.
Conclusion
Chronic fatigue was common and associated with poorer mental health and functioning longitudinally. While there were no sex differences in the rates of chronic fatigue, there were some sex differences in the factors associated with it. Systematic screening and early intervention for chronic fatigue, considering sex-specific factors, may improve multidimensional outcomes in youth with emerging mood disorders.
Keywords
Fatigue
Tiredness
Adolescence
Predictors
Mood disorders
Disability
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 193, June 2025, 112141
Multidimensional outcomes associated with chronic fatigue over 12 months in youth with emerging mood disorders
Emiliana Toninia,*, Jacob J. Crousea,1, Mirim Shina, Joanne S. Carpentera, Andrew R. Lloydb, Gabrielle Hindmarsha, Sarah McKennaa, Alissa Nichlesa, Natalia Zmicerevskaa, Jan Scottc, Frank Iorfinoa, Christos Pantelisd,e,f, Barnaby Nelsong,h, Patrick D. McGorryg,h, Stephen J. Woodg,h,i, Alison R. Yungj,k, Rosemary Purcellg,h, Ian B. Hickiea,1
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112141
Open access
Highlights
- •
52 % of young people with emerging mood disorders experienced chronic fatigue over 12 months. - •
Chronic fatigue was associated with persistently elevated anxiety, more disability, weight gain and shorter sleep duration. - •
Chronic fatigue in females was associated with longer sleep latency at follow-up, but not in males.
Background
Complaints of chronic fatigue lasting weeks or longer are common during adolescence. Little is known about factors associated with chronic fatigue in youth with mood disorders or potential sex-specific associations.
Methods
496 young people (mean age = 18.36-years, SD = 3.22; 69 % female) seeking help for mental healthcare were assessed on psychological symptoms, lifestyle, and sleep at baseline and 12-months later. Fatigue was defined as a score of ≥3 on the somatic subscale of the Somatic and Psychological Health Report. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between clinical, lifestyle, and related factors and chronic fatigue caseness, including main effects and sex interactions.
Results
Half (52 % [N = 260]) of the sample reported fatigue at both baseline and 12-month follow-up (“chronic fatigue”). Univariately, chronic fatigue cases were more commonly at later clinical stages of mental disorder and had worse mental health, sleep disturbance, and disability at baseline and follow-up. In covariate-adjusted analyses, being a chronic fatigue case was associated with persistently elevated anxiety and, at 12-month follow-up, more disability, weight gain, and shorter sleep duration. In sex-interaction analyses, chronic fatigue in females was associated with longer sleep latency at follow-up (OR = 1.97), but not in males.
Conclusion
Chronic fatigue was common and associated with poorer mental health and functioning longitudinally. While there were no sex differences in the rates of chronic fatigue, there were some sex differences in the factors associated with it. Systematic screening and early intervention for chronic fatigue, considering sex-specific factors, may improve multidimensional outcomes in youth with emerging mood disorders.
Keywords
Fatigue
Tiredness
Adolescence
Predictors
Mood disorders
Disability
