Beliefs about sharing illness experiences in chronic fatigue syndrome: the role of interpersonal trust and personality

Abstract

background Disclosure of illness and illness experiences can be complicated for patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome due to the stigma associated with the illness. In this study, we evaluate the psychometric properties of the Beliefs about Sharing Illness Experiences (BASIE) scale in chronic fatigue patients. In addition, we investigate whether interpersonal trust and personality characteristics predict self-disclosure in chronic fatigue patients.