Understanding fatigue in major depressive disorder and other medical disorders.
BACKGROUND
Although fatigue is a common symptom that occurs in many psychiatric and other medical disorders, the pathophysiological mechanisms of fatigue are still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this review is to assess the state of knowledge about fatigue in depression and other disorders and identify new avenues for research in the study of fatigue.


METHODS
The author reviewed some 50 articles in the field.


CONCLUSIONS
An approach that emphasizes the similarities between fatigue and depression may improve the understanding of these complex syndromes. As more is learned about the neuropathology of the heterogeneous syndrome of depression, the etiology of many of the symptoms domains associated with depression, including fatigue, may become clearer.
Arnold
Lesley M
LM
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Lesley.Arnold@uc.edu
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone