• J S Kalkman, M L Schillings, M J Zwarts, B G M van Engelen, and G Bleijenberg.
• Expert Centre Chronic Fatigue, Radboud University Nijmingen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. j.kalkman@ulc.umcn.nl
• Acta Neurol. Scand. 2007 Apr 1;115(4):265-70.

ObjectivesTo study the presence of psychiatric comorbidity assessed by the use of a structured clinical interview and self-reported questionnaires in a large sample of patients with adult-onset myotonic dystrophy (DM), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I (HMSN-I), and to assess whether psychiatric comorbidity is related to fatigue severity and/or muscle strength.MethodsIn a cohort of 217 patients with a neuromuscular disorder (79 DM, 65 FSHD and 73 HMSN-I patients) overall psychiatric comorbidity was studied cross-sectionally with the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders. Self-reported psychopathology, fatigue severity and muscle strength were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90, General Health Questionnaire-12, Checklist Individual Strength and muscle strength [Medical Research Council (MRC)-scale].ResultsIn all three neuromuscular disorders (DM, FSHD and HMSN), 10-12% of the patients met DSM IV clinical criteria for current psychiatric disorders. Lifetime psychiatric disorders were found in 32% of patients in all three patient groups. The most common psychiatric disorders were depression and phobias. A comparison of patients with and without current psychiatric disorder showed that fatigue severity and muscle strength (MRC) were not related to psychiatric comorbidity.ConclusionPsychiatric disorders appear equally in patients with DM, FSHD and HMSN-I and are not related to fatigue or muscle strength in these patients.

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