ABSTRACT
Since 1934 at least 70 myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)-type epidemics have occurred around the world.1 Yet most physicians and the public remain unclear as to the cause and characteristics of ME. Many physicians debate the existence of ME as a valid medical entity. To put it kindly, many physicians simply find ME and patients with ME an unwanted bother. Since 1934, when the first well-documented ME epidemic ravaged the Los Angeles County Hospital,2 ME as a diagnosis has refused to go away and the mental health aspects of ME and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) not only remain but also appear to increase. We require a better understanding of ME and CFS. Even with knowledge, treating the mental health problems of the patient with ME will remain a formidable task.
