• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2012

Objectives: To obtain the features of prevalence of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome worldwide. Methods: All research reports for prevalence of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome were selected from PubMed, KMbase and KISS database, and the prevalence were analyzed according to the symptoms and countries. Results: A total of 39 articles from 13 other countries and 4 articles from Korea met the criteria of this study. The prevalence of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome was about 10% and 1% respectively. The prevalence for Korean was 17.7% and 1.4% respectively, however the data have a limitation due to the lack of well-designed studies. Conclusions: This report can provide essential information to build a strategy for development of therapeutics against chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome using traditional Korean medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.28-36
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• 2009

Objectives: Fatigue is a prevalent symptom encompassing both acute and chronic manifestations. Most fatigue symptoms can be cured by taking a rest or removing underlying causes. However, chronic fatigue is frequently problematic due to its duration and effect on quality of life. There are no particularly effective therapies for chronic fatigue of unknown causes, and patients in Korea usually visit an Oriental clinic. This study aimed to analyze the current status of treatments and patients with chronic fatigue, and then map out of a strategy for development of generalized-treatments for chronic fatigue in Oriental Medicine. Methods: Clinical information related to chronic fatigue was selected from various different databases such as PubMed, KoreaMed, KStudy, DBPIA, OIM, and KOMS. Also, to understand current tendency of medical examination and treatment related with chronic fatigue, we requested Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service for clinical datum from 2003 to 2007. Results: The medical fees of National Health Insurance related with fatigue show an explosive year-on-year increase. On the other hand, it has been decreasing annually in the western medical fields. To take charge of clinical fields related with chronic fatigue by Oriental Medicine, we should make a unified diagnostic system. Then, we should also make standard evaluation tools and develop herbal drugs according to this unified diagnostic system. Conclusions: Fatigue-related symptoms will be a main target of Oriental medicine in the future. We expect that various studies related with chronic fatigue will be undertaken hereafter.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.80-85
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• 2009

Objective: This study aimed to build an overview of randomized clinical controlled trials (RCTs) for chronic fatigue-related symptoms to extract the useful data for management of patients and development of therapeutics using Korean traditional medicine in the future. Methods: All RCT-derived papers for chronic fatigue-related symptoms were collected via PubMed Database. We surveyed elementary information of RCTs such as clinical question, study design, and its quality and results. Results: A total of fifty-three RCTs met these review criteria. Most of the RCTs were performed in Western countries, particularly the UK and USA. The major portion of RCTs focused on chronic fatigue syndrome using immune modulators, psychotherapeutic and anti-depressants. Five RCTs using complementary and alternative medicine, including herbal remedies, showed positive results. Conclusions: Fatigue-related symptoms are a main target of Oriental medicine. This study provides helpful information for planning clinical study of chronic fatigue-related symptoms using traditional Korean medicine.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 1997

Chronic fatigue syndrome Is a syndrome of unknown etiology and pathophysiology characterized by severe, chronic, debilitating fatigue as main symptom and numerous additional symptoms such as joint and muscle pain, headache, sleep disturbance. According to recent researches, it was suggested that chronic fatigue syndrome was developed by disturbance of interaction between neuropsychiatric system and immune system due to environmental factors and stress. Many patients experience gradual improvement but complete recovery from disorderd state is rare. There was no research elucidating the exact pathogenetic mechanism of chronic fatigue syndrome, so there was no established treatment. Several controlled studies about treatment was reported, but its results was not effective in all patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. For chronic fatigue syndrome, a comprehensive approach to physical, psychological, and social aspects is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.16-20
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• 2010

Objective: This study aimed to produce a description of features of chronic fatigue patients visiting an Oriental Hospital. Methods: 121 patients (75 male and 46 female) who visited a fatigue-care center were enrolled in this study, and the main complaints besides fatigue feeling, symptom differentiation, and health-related factors were analyzed. Results: On a visual analogue scale (VAS), average severity of fatigue was 7.0 (male 6.77 and female 7.4; 0 indicates no fatigue vs. 10 indicates intolerable fatigue), and the main complaints included headache (male and female) and dyspepsia (female). Patients generally slept about 7 hrs and caught a cold 2.4 times per year (same in both male and female). 54.6 % of patients used functional supplements, and red ginseng, vitamin and herbal medicine were chosen in that order. Conclusions: Chronic fatigue is a main target of traditional Korean medicine (TKM). This study can be helpful to design TKM-based treatment for chronic fatigue-related symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.377-385
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• 2006

Purpose: This study were to examine the relationship among chronic pain, pain beliefs, pain coping, and fatigue and to define the main factors influencing chronic pain in the elderly. Method: Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 276 Korean elderly. Data analysis was done with SPSS 10.1 for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Stepwise multiple regression. Results: Chronic pain score was 5.45, which was slightly higher than the average. There were significant differences in chronic pain according to age, marital state, economic state, and duration of pain. There was a significant positive correlation between chronic pain and pain beliefs, passive pain coping, physical fatigue and mental fatigue. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between chronic pain and active pain coping. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that 44% of the variance in chronic pain was significantly accounted for by passive pain coping(31%), pain beliefs(8%), physical fatigue(4%), and active pain coping(1%). Conclusion: These results suggested that pain beliefs, pain coping, and fatigue can be influencing factors on chronic pain for the elderly. Also, the findings can provide a basis for nursing intervention development to effectively manage chronic pain for the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among variables of somatic attribution, chronic pain, depression and chronic fatigue in the elderly. Methods: Empirical data for testing hypothetical models was collected from 311 people over 65 years old in a community settings in Seoul, Korea in June and July, 2000. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and correlational analysis using pc-SAS program. The Linear Structural Modeling(LISREL) 8.0 program was used to find the best fit model which explained causal relationship of variables. Result: According to Accepted model, the relation of variables is that the somatic attribution is the influencing variable to chronic pain and depression and chronic pain and depression is the influencing variable to chronic fatigue. Conclusion: The findings of this study give useful information to construct intervention program relating chronic pain, depression and chronic fatigue for the elderly.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.605-611
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• 2005

Chronic fatigue refers to the tiredness which disturbs one's daily activities and lasts more than six months without the sign of improvement by rest or sleep. Male chronic fatigue is included in internal injuries due to overstrain and exhaustion and closely related to river, spleen, stomach and kidney out of five Jang organs. Male chronic fatigue is based on the deficiency of Yang and aggravated by liquor, sex and emotional depression. Chronic fatigue has the following features in Hyungsang ; an inclination for lying: unwillingness to everything; drooping eyes and feeble voice; yellow pale complexion; withered ears; redness on the tip of nose; cheekbone, and lips; blood shot eyes; dryness and loss of hair. Male chronic fatigue usually attacks the persons of horse type and bird type because they are hyperactive compared with what they eat. The following medicines are commonly prescribed for the treatment of male chronic fatigue. Ssangwhatang, Sokunzungtang, and Yanghyulsamultang are commonly prescribed to horse type. Jaumkangwhatang, Chungsimyunzaum, Yookmijiwhangtang to bird type. Palmiwhan, Gozinumja. and Shinkihwan to fish type. Bozungikkitang, Galwhahaesungtang, Samchulgunbitang and Sipjundaebotang to turtle type.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.333-343
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was designed to construct a structural model for symptom management of life of the patients with chronic fatigue. The hypothetical model was developed based on the literature review and Self-regulating Model. Method: Data were collected by questionnaires from 252 patients with chronic fatigue in the 8 community from December 2002 to April 2003 in Seoul. Data analysis was done with SAS for descriptive statistics and PC-LISREL Program for Covariance structural analysis. Result: The fit of the hypothetical model to the data was moderate, thus it was modified by excluding 4 path and including free parameters and 3 path to it The modified model with path showed a good fitness to the empirical data($x^2$=318.11, p=0.0, GFI=.98, AGFI=.98, NNFI=.95, RMSR=.03, RMSEA=.05). The symptoms of stress, self-efficacy, and present fatigue level were found to have significant direct effect on symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. The ways of coping, perceived stress, and fatigue symptom were found to have indirect effects on symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. Conclusion: The derived model is considered appropriate in explaining and predicting symptom management of the patients with chronic fatigue. Therefore, it can effectively be used as a reference model for further studies and suggested direction in nursing practice.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.97-109
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• 2005

Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS) is a complex, debilitating disorder characterized by at least 6 months of severe persistent of relapsing fatigue and a group of characteristic but nonspecific symptoms. Many researchers have proposed that CFS has a specific cause. However currently no evidence exists that proves either a specific cause of CFS. And there is no diagnostic test for CFS. The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome is based on the patient's history, excluding other illnesses In the absence of consistent biological markers, the diagnosis of CFS arises from operational criteria that do not afford validity. The prognosis is poor and often disability and impairment of daily function and performance are prolonged. A limited understanding of the CFS has complicated the management of this disorder. Therefore, treatment of CFS may be variable and should be tailored to each patient. Therapy should include exercise, diet, good sleep hygiene, antidepressants, and other medications, depending on the patient's presentation. Regular follow-up is key to continue to exclude other medical problems and provide support for patients. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a challenging illness to manage and requires a team approach of caring providers. For the majority of patients this is a chronic illness with the goals of therapy being to improve functional status and to prevent disability. Further understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of this illness should lead to better specific therapy.