ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the available evidence linking chronic fatigue syndrome and psychiatric morbidity is evaluated in an attempt to determine whether this functional somatic illness is a clinical variant of traditional mood or somatization disorders. Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by persistent tiredness, a variety of other physical complaints, cognitive dysfunction, and symptoms commonly associated with mood and anxiety disorders. The controlled investigation of the prevalence and characteristics of mood disorders in chronic fatigue syndrome was carried out at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases in London, England. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and neuromuscular disorders were similar with respect to age and duration of illness. The prevalence of mood disorders among chronic fatigue patients was also evaluated in a controlled study performed by an interdisciplinary team from the University of Wales College of Medicine and the University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
