Lenny Jason‘s recent research paper, Mortality in patients with ME and CFS, found patients are significantly at risk for earlier all-cause mortality with the top three causes of death being suicide, cardiovascular problems, and cancer.  Jason is well-known for his epidemiology work, with over 80 articles on ME; he was also involved in the creation of the DePaul questionnaire.  Jason is also a patient.

In order to further examine suicide as a risk factor in ME, Jason’s team at DePaul University in Chicago is performing a survey-study entitled An Assessment of Demoralization and Depression-like Symptoms Experienced by Individuals with ME and CFS.

There has been a great deal of debate around whether or not mood disturbances do or can contribute to the development of ME.  However, little research has been performed on the effects of ME — both its symptoms and its stigma — on the individual’s emotional well-being.

The survey is for all individuals 18 or older who have been diagnosed with ME, CFS, or ME/CFS.  It assesses several factors that could potentially affect emotional well-being, including access to and quality of healthcare, illness severity, financial impact, and social interactions with both supportive and non-supportive people.  Jason’s team hopes to use this data to better understand the patient experience, and the types of barriers to receiving quality care and support.

This questionnaire will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.

You can access the survey by clicking on the button below:

[button_color url=”https://redcap.is.depaul.edu/surveys/?s=TNPC3XR8HE” content=”Take survey now” target=”https://redcap.is.depaul.edu/surveys/?s=TNPC3XR8HE”]

Please contact Stephanie McManimen (smcmanim@depaul.edu; 773-325-4962) with any questions.