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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex of symptoms whose presentation blurs the traditional distinction between the physiological and psychological aspects of illness. First described in the late 1800s as myalgic encephalomyelitis (Lewis, Cooper, & Bennett, 1994), CFS has had a number of appellations including "post-viral fatigue syndrome" and the "yuppie flu."
Persons identified as suffering from CFS complain of generalized fatigue, accompanied by a number of vague, somatic, and psychosocial complaints. Yet, fatigue of greater than 2 weeks duration is experienced by 24% of the general adult population, and is common in conditions as diverse as sleep apnea and hypothyroidism. The prevalence of fatigue often confounds the diagnosis of CFS, thus, the diagnosis is usually one of exclusion.
Diagnostic Criteria
To differentiate CFS from other fatigue-related or -inducing illnesses, the CFS diagnostic criteria have undergone a number of revisions. Currently, the clinical presentation of CFS is defined by: (1) impaired memory or concentration; (2) sore throat; (3) tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes; (4) muscle pain; (5) multi-joint pain; (6) new headaches; (7) unrefreshing sleep; and (8) postexertion malaise (Fukuda et al., 1994).
To date, CFS research has focused on delineating symptoms criteria or investigating possible etiologies. Etiological studies are usually directed at determining either psychogenic or organic causes, but not both. Few studies have explored CFS as a holistic phenomenon. The medical terminology applied to the illness and theories of etiology commonly found in the literature artificially separate the body and the mind.
This dichotomous approach ignores me holistic life of the person with CFS, effectively narrowing die range of care choices of both client and health care provider. The authors believe that a holistic approach to CFS research is imperative to developing a more comprehensive understanding of the disease process, and developing care guidelines for persons with CFS. This study explored the physical and emotional components of the experience. The open-ended approach to data collection offered participants the opportunity to describe their experience in terms that were meaningful to them.
Method
Sample
The 22 participants for dus study were a subsample of respondents of a larger study of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Forty^nine participants were selected by convenience sampling from CFS support group referrals, or from participants at a CFS teleconference. AU...