Article

The aim of this pilot study was to explore illness beliefs and coping
strategies among adolescent patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic
encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), applying a qualitative methodology. Recent studies
have explored the illness beliefs and coping strategies of adult patients with
CFS/ME as possible contributing factors to the disease aetiology. These studies
have mainly used quantitative methods, finding that patients often explain their
illness as being due to physical causes, deny psychological causes and make use
of passive and avoidant coping strategies. METHOD: Semi-structured, in-depth
interviews were conducted with nine adolescent patients with CFS/ME, thematic analysis was adapted to the material and the results were interpreted in light of
theories of attribution and coping. RESULTS: The qualitative method allowed for more complex and nuanced accounts of illness experience. The findings showed that
the adolescents differ from what has previously been reported, applying more
varied and flexible illness attributions and coping mechanisms than expected.
CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity suggested in the results has implications. We suggest three perspectives should be taken into account, both for further research and in clinical practice: (1) individual differences; (2) a
developmental perspective and (3) interactive relational focus.

Langue : ANGLAIS