«Inactivity,
sleep disturbance, psychiatric comorbidity, medication, and ongoing stress experienced by
people with CFS will affect HPA axis function, and the findings that HPA axis dysregulation is more prominent in patients
with a longer duration of illness suggest that the endocrine changes may be secondary.»
Given the nature of the issues which have faced children and young
people prior to their reception into care, it is likely that staff in children's units will have to deal
with sleep disturbances and their consequences.