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ME/CFS Science
@mecfsscience.org

1) The research team of Leonard Jason has published the DSQ-PEM-2, a new short questionnaire to assess post-exertional malaise (PEM). It includes extra questions about multiple PEM triggers, delayed onset, and prolonged recovery. But there are also some issues...

ME/CFS Science
@mecfsscience.org

2) The most popular PEM questionnaire in use is the DSQ-PEM, which was also designed by the Jason team. However, it does not assess important PEM domains, such as triggers or delayed onset. There's also a more extensive questionnaire, the DPEMQ, but it's long and impractical.

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ME/CFS Science
@mecfsscience.org

4) The researchers tested this questionnaire in ca. 1500 ME/CFS patients and found that the typical duration of PEM was from 24 hours to 1 week, with a delay in symptoms from 24 to 48 hours. 12% said that PEM lasted > 2 years, indicating PEM also includes long-term worsening.

ME/CFS Science
@mecfsscience.org

5) The table below shows triggers included in the questionnaire and how common these are. It's notable how many are not directly related to exertion, such as cold, positional change, noise, foods, chemicals, etc. (Not sure if it's an improvement to include all of these).

ME/CFS Science
@mecfsscience.org

6) The questionnaire also asks about how effective pacing is. The most common replies were 'Moderately effective' (37%) and 'Mildly effective' 34%. For 13% of participants, it was not effective at all.