Chronic fatigue syndrome
Medicine
Volume 40, Issue 12 , Pages 647-649, December 2012
Stephen E. Perry
,
Alastair M. Santhouse
Stephen E Perry MBChB MSc MRCPsych is a Locum Consultant Psychiatrist at DCMH, Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth, UK. Competing interests: none declared
Alastair M Santhouse MA MRCP MRCPsych is a Consultant in Psychological Medicine at Guy's Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital, London, UK. Competing interests: AMS was a member of the NICE guideline development group for the CFS/ME Guidelines
Abstract*
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition that can lead to severe impairment of function in all aspects of patients' lives.
It therefore constitutes a considerable burden on the individual, their carers and society.
No single cause has yet been found, and it is likely to be a condition of multiple aetiologies.
Delays in diagnosis can lead to increased disability and less chance of successful treatment.
Effective treatments are available in the form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) and both these treatments have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Keywords: cognitive-behavioural therapy, fatigue, graded exercise therapy, medically unexplained symptoms, MLV, XMRV