Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2007 Feb;60(2):117-9.
doi: 10.1136/jcp.2006.042754. Epub 2006 Aug 25.

Definitions and aetiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis: how the Canadian consensus clinical definition of myalgic encephalomyelitis works

B M Carruthers  1
Affiliations
Review

Definitions and aetiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis: how the Canadian consensus clinical definition of myalgic encephalomyelitis works

B M Carruthers. J Clin Pathol. 2007 Feb.

Abstract

A perspective on the various definitions of myalgic encephalomyelitis and the process of discovering its aetiology is presented. The importance of clinical guidelines is emphasised to encourage clinicians to provide clear descriptions of their individual patients required for proper clinical activity; diagnosis, estimation of severity of effect, prognosis, treatment and rehabilitation. This individual knowledge is informed by general and (hopefully) publicly confirmed knowledge resulting from scientific research during the second-person interaction which lies at the core of the clinical encounter. Both types of knowledge are essential.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

    1. Holmes G P, Kaplan J E, Gantz N M.et al Chronic fatigue syndrome: a working case definition. Ann Intern Med 1988108387–389. - PubMed
    1. Sharpe M C, Archard L C, Banatvala J E.et al A report—chronic fatigue syndrome: guidelines for research. J R Soc Med 199184118–121. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fukuda K, Straus S E, Hickie I.et al The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group. Ann Intern Med 1994121953–959. - PubMed
    1. McDermott W. Evaluating the physician and his technology. In: Knowles JH, ed. Doing better and feeling worse: health in the United States. New York: Norton, 1977142–156.
    1. Tallis R. Hippocratic oaths: medicine and its discontents. In: Grant M, ed. The Raymond Tallis reader. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2000