title: Diagnostic and treatment challenges of chronic fatigue syndrome: role of immediate-release methylphenidate.
abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a distinct entity belonging to the group of persistent fatigue that can be challenging to diagnose and to treat. It is characterized by a combination of prolonged fatigue, other nonspecific somatic manifestations and neuropsychological symptoms, including difficulties with concentration, short-term memory and thinking, as well as impaired attention and slowed processing speed. Neurostimulants increasing dopamine and norepinephrine activity, such as bupropion, dextroamphetamine and recently immediate-release methylphenidate have been advocated to improve neurocognitive deficits. The use of immediate-release methylphenidate in CFS has been shown in one small study. Using the positive results of this study and the well-known beneficial effects of the drug on a range of similar cognitive symptoms in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, this perspective addresses CFS and other related disorders and provides a discussion on the potential promising role of methylphenidate in the therapeutic armamentarium of CFS.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Paseo Isabel la Católica 1-3, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain. jrvaldizan@auna.com
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Valdizán Usón
authors.forename: María Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Idiazábal Alecha
mesh_terms: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008774:Methylphenidate