How was the neurological disease ME hijacked by semantics about fatigue?

In 1993 the CDC categorised "fatigue" terms while revising the Holmes et al working case definition.

"Chronic fatigue syndrome is treated as a subset of chronic fatigue, a broader category defined as unexplained fatigue of greater than or equal to six months duration. Chronic fatigue in turn is treated as a subset of prolonged fatigue, which is fatigue lasting one or more months."
Source: <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/cfs/defined/defined2.htm>

Was CFS seen as the potential "Trojan horse" for psychiatry?

"Psychiatrists' familiarity with the pitfalls of researching illnesses without established pathophysiological diagnostic markers also gives them useful insights into how research into CFS should be best designed.... the CFS/ME issue offers opportunity to the discipline of psychiatry as it continues to strive to maintain its clinical and research scope. Chronic fatigue syndrome can be seen as a potential Trojan horse for psychiatry...."

Source: Couper J. "Chronic fatigue syndrome and Australian psychiatry: lessons from the UK experience." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2000;34:762-769

Chris Hunter

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