This study aims to assess whether raised CRP (a blood test used as a marker of inflammation) is associated with probable depression in children and young people with CFS/ME.
CACH team: Sandy Royston, Maria Loades, Esther Crawley
Beyond those completed for routine referral into the service, no further blood tests or questionnaires are undertaken to complete this study. Participants agree for their pseudonymised data to be collected from the screening tests they underwent for referral into the specialist RUH CFS/ME service.
We are conducting this study because low mood is a common problem for young people with CFS/ME (between 20-30%) and it can make life more challenging for young people already experiencing difficulties. Ultimately, we would like to find better treatments for these children and young people.
We also suspect that those young people with CFS/ME and low mood may experience a different form of CFS/ME than those without low mood. We would like to understand this condition better. This study will take approximately 2 years.