Uncertainties of living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: barriers to treatment and its consequences, 2025,

Dolphin

Dolphin

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Research Article

Uncertainties of living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: barriers to treatment and its consequences​

Gopika Surendran

Tony P Jose
Received 07 Aug 2024, Accepted 03 Nov 2025, Published online: 11 Nov 2025


ABSTRACT
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that significantly impacts the lives of affected individuals, presenting numerous treatment challenges.

This study aims to explore the obstacles encountered during the treatment process, their effects on daily life, and the future concerns of individuals with CFS, analyzed through the lens of Miranda Fricker’s concept of epistemic injustice.

People with CFS were interviewed in semi-structured interviews with an emphasis on their experiences with treatment difficulties. To find recurrent themes and patterns in the qualitative data, thematic analysis was used.

Four themes emerged from the analysis: Health care system factors, Multifaceted life challenges, social misunderstanding, and future uncertainty.

The theme addresses the lack of professional help and how it affects psychological, financial, and relationship elements of people’s lives, as well as how it affects how they view their future.

A comprehensive strategy that includes patient empowerment, evidence-based treatment, provider education, healthcare system changes, and public awareness campaigns is needed to address these obstacles.

KEYWORDS:

 
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I would have thought the biggest ‘barrier to treatment’ is that there are no evidenced treatments.

However if by treatment they mean appropriate symptom management that is a different issue, though how many doctors or other clinicians are out there that have any understanding of how to do this.
 
Peter T said:
I would have thought the biggest ‘barrier to treatment’ is that there are no evidenced treatments.

However if by treatment they mean appropriate symptom management that is a different issue, though how many doctors or other clinicians are out there that have any understanding of how to do this.
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The biggest barrier to that situation changing seems to be the societal abandonment. The lack of research funding and the general poor views of the illness by healthcare workers means there is no one to do the research and no interest in funding it. So the situation can't change. Sufferers have so few allies I see no way this can change.
 
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