The following are identified by the Chief medical Officer's Working Group as predisposing factors for CFS:
- Gender. CFS is much more prevalent in females than in males although this may reflect the fact that women are more likely to
consult a doctor about their symptoms;
- Family. The familial incidence of CFS is slightly higher than expected which suggests that having family
members with CFS increases your chances of contracting it.
- Personality. There is mixed evidence which may suggest that people with certain personality traits and those with mood
disorders may be more susceptible to CFS than the general population.
- Other disorders. Having had either fibromyalgia and irritable bowel disorder will increase your risk of developing the condition.
It is important to note that we will not have a clear picture of risk factors for CFS until we understand more about the nature of the condition.
