title: Psychosocial management of chronic fatigue syndrome in adolescence.
abstract: The state of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as abnormal illness behaviour or as biologically determined disease is undecided. The ensuing, often public, debate has confused the community and has led to sharp differences in the therapeutic approach to individual patients. These challenges are compounded when the patient is an adolescent and intergenerational issues enter the picture. Two adolescent cases with different outcomes are presented and the principles of a rehabilitation approach to treatment are outlined which attempt to avoid being drawn into unproductive debates about aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Arndell Children's Unit, North Ryde, New South Wales.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rikard-Bell
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012803:Sick Role