Research with Children and Adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Methodologies, Designs, and Special Considerations

AbstractChronic faligue syndrome (CFS) in children and adolescents presents unique challenges and opportunities to researchers. Issues specific to research conducted on children and adolescents with CFS ate discussed. Such issues include the importance of utilizing a consistent definition of CFS and ascertaining that all participants meet the criteria, the need for attention to wording of questions regarding fatigue, and 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 are made.