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Erschienen in:
01.03.2007 | ORIGINAL PAPER
The spectra of neurasthenia and depression: course, stability and transitions
Erschienen in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Ausgabe 2/2007
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Background
Neurasthenia has had a chequered history, receiving changing labels such as chronic fatigue or Gulf war syndrome. Neurasthenia is recognized by ICD-10, but not by DSM-IV. Its course, longitudinal stability and relationship to depression is not well understood.
Methods
In a stratified community sample (n = 591), representative of 2600 persons of the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, neurasthenia and depression were assessed in six structured interviews between ages 20 and 41. Course, stability and comorbidity were examined. A severity spectrum of neurasthenia and depression from symptoms to diagnosis was taken into account.
Results
The annual prevalence of a neurasthenia diagnosis increased from 0.7% to 3.8% from age 22–41, while mere symptoms became less prevalent. Intraindividual courses improved in 40% and deteriorated in about 30% of symptomatic cases. The most frequent symptoms overall, besides criterial exhaustion, were increased need for sleep, over-sensitivity, nervousness and difficulty concentrating. Cross-sectional associations and overlap with depression were strong. Longitudinal stability of ICD-neurasthenia was low.
Conclusions
Neurasthenia is intermittent, overlaps significantly with depression, and shows improvement and deterioration over time to roughly equal measures.