Functional Status and Mood in Persian Gulf Veterans with Unexplained Fatiguing Illness

In this investigation, the effects of unexplained fatiguing illness and psychiatric disturbance on functional status and quality of life in Gulf War veterans (GWVs) was examined. Twenty-nine GWVs with unexplained fatigue (Fukuda et al., 1994) and an Axis I psychiatric diagnosis, 19 GWVs with fatigue and no Axis I psychiatric disorder, and 45 healthy GWVs were evaluated. GWVs with unexplained fatigue suffered from significant functional decline and decreased well-being in all spheres, relative to healthy GWVs. Veterans with comorbid psychiatric illnesses demonstrated the most impaired functioning on measures of life quality that emphasized psychological well-being, but they did not demonstrate reduced physical functioning relative to other fatigued veterans. Thus, reduced physical functioning and well-being in GWVs cannot be attributed to psychiatric disturbance but seems to result from unexplained fatiguing illness.