Just for fun, I thought I'd list all the hypotheses about ME/CFS that I can remember. Hopefully others will add ones I've missed, but preferably without detailed justification of your favourite models, just the main idea - and link to more resources as appropriate.
It's possible (probable?) that the eventaul cause(s) of CFS will be in these hypotheses, though they can't all be Elvis.
The only broad categorisation I'd make is between those that suggest a chronic, ongoing cause of CFS eg XMRV and those that suppose a trigger (or triggers) that can lead to an ongoing state of CFS even when the original trigger is no longer present. Maybe other people can suggest better ways to group them.
TRIGGER plus
CHRONIC
A surprising number of these are from the last few years, or maybe I've just forgotten all the earlier ones.
some of these may have a separate trigger
Must have missed loads, so over to you.[edit: updated with Alex's suggestions]
It's possible (probable?) that the eventaul cause(s) of CFS will be in these hypotheses, though they can't all be Elvis.
The only broad categorisation I'd make is between those that suggest a chronic, ongoing cause of CFS eg XMRV and those that suppose a trigger (or triggers) that can lead to an ongoing state of CFS even when the original trigger is no longer present. Maybe other people can suggest better ways to group them.
TRIGGER plus
- The Biopsychosocial model
Flawed patient beliefs and behaviours perpetuate the 'illness'. The clear winner in terms of research spend, employment and publications - Severity of acute infection triggers long-term changes, probably in the brain (Dubbo)
- Other immune theories. I'll leave others to fill this in; some may be 'chronic' rather than triggered
- Er.... run out of steam
CHRONIC
A surprising number of these are from the last few years, or maybe I've just forgotten all the earlier ones.
some of these may have a separate trigger
- XMRV/other human retrovirus
- Other chronic infection e.g enterovirus, parasites
- Mutated normally harmless virus eg coxsackie b
- Toxins eg mercury fillings
- Epigenetic eg Methylation (Richvank)
- chromosomal damage
- Genetic other eg "at least two different mutations in Cortisol Binding Globulin induce symptoms that resemble CFS or ME"
- B-cell mediation/Autoimmune eg Fluge & Mella/Rituximab (may have upstream trigger)
- other immune theories
- Dysfunction in sensing pain and fatigue in the body (Lights' work)
- Mitochondrial dysfunction (both primary and secondary)
- Deficiencies eg Molybdenum deficiency (would affect mitochondrial efficiency)
- dysregulation of eicosanoid synthesis (1994)
Must have missed loads, so over to you.[edit: updated with Alex's suggestions]