Theory article: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: From Chronic Fatigue to More Specific Syndromes, 2018, Blitshteyn & Chopra

[Andy]

Abstract
In the last decade, a group of chronic disorders associated with fatigue (CDAF) emerged as the leading cause of chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and functional impairment, all of which have been often labeled in clinical practice as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or fibromyalgia. While these chronic disorders arise from various pathophysiologic mechanisms, a shared autoimmune or immune-mediated etiology could shift the focus from symptomatic treatment of fatigue and pain to targeted immunomodulatory and biological therapy.

A clinical paradigm shift is necessary to reevaluate CFS and fibromyalgia diagnoses and its relationship to the CDAF entities, which would ultimately lead to a change in diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for patients with chronic fatigue and chronic pain. Rather than uniformly apply the diagnoses of CFS or fibromyalgia to any patient presenting with unexplained chronic fatigue or chronic pain, it may be more beneficial and therapeutically effective to stratify these patients into more specific diagnoses in the CDAF group.

Paywalled at https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/493531#tab4

 

[Kalliope]

PDF of paper from Sci Hub

 

[Sly Saint]

"Rather than uniformly apply the diagnoses of CFS or fibromyalgia to any patient presenting with unexplained chronic fatigue or chronic pain, it may be more beneficial and therapeutically effective to stratify these patients into more specific diagnoses in the CDAF group"

well, yes.......try telling the so-called CF/CP 'experts'/researchers

 

[Trish]

It seems from glancing at the paper that what they are pointing out is that conditions like POTS and MCAS have been lumped together by clinicians under the CFS/FM umbrella, and should be separated out so they can be treated appropriately.

 

[JaimeS]

This isn't bad, actually.

 

[rvallee]

Paywalled at https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/493531#tab4

The first sentence either reads like a book report from a student who didn't read the book, or is correctly pointing out that it was a mistake to summarize it as such.

Overall it can be read that various distinct conditions have been wrongfully lumped together, which is definitely something that needs to be addressed. Especially the way-too-common usage of CFS and FM as symptoms, which is just cringeworthy.

Rather than uniformly apply the diagnoses of CFS or fibromyalgia to any patient presenting with unexplained chronic fatigue or chronic pain, it may be more beneficial and therapeutically effective to stratify these patients into more specific diagnoses in the CDAF group.

Indeed. Of course it's been a deliberate exercise, especially under the MUS nonsense. Interesting that people are waking up to this willful confusion. Depending of course on what place they see for ME and FM once other explanations are ruled out.

Pain and fatigue are the two most common symptoms across all diseases. That they are found in many diseases is kind of self-explanatory. Doesn't mean they share anything else in common.