title: [Chronic fatigue syndrome--psychiatric aspects].
abstract: Diagnosis of the chronic fatigue syndrome depends on various somatic and psychopathological symptoms. Somatic symptoms of the syndrome have been subject of an extensive body of literature. In comparison, psychiatric aspects have caught relatively less attention. Psychiatric aspects of etiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic concepts are essential for evaluation of the syndrome. Application of CDC-criteria to a well known disease does not solve the nosological problem, but may define the syndrome more accurately. In this respect, issues including psychiatric comorbidity and specificity of neuropathological symptoms are discussed. Psychological variables seem to have a high predictor value for time course and outcome of the symptoms. Etiological concepts emphasize on biological or psychosocial factors. Alterations of biological parameters including immune functions, sleep regulation, and hypothalamic-pituary-adrenocortical function have been reported. The role of cultural factors has been discussed extensively. Somatic and psychological stress may result in the same clinical syndrome via psychoimmunological mechanisms. An integrated, interdisciplinary approach to further refine diagnostic criteria, understanding of etiology and development of adequate therapeutic measures seems necessary.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrische Klinik, Klinikum Ingolstadt.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lemke
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications
vernacular_title: Das chronische Erschöpfungssyndrom--psychiatrische Aspekte.