• A Söderlund, A M Skoge, and K Malterud.
• Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway.
• Scand J Prim Health Care. 2000 Sep 1; 18 (3): 165169165-9.

ObjectivesTo explore and describe symptoms and their consequences for patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).DesignQualitative data from a group interview, written answers to a questionnaire and a follow-up meeting analysed in accordance with Giorgi's phenomenological approach.SubjectsPurposeful sample of 10 women and 2 men of various ages recruited from the local self-help patient organisation.Main Outcome MeasuresDescriptions reflecting the nature, extent and consequences of symptoms regarded as the most substantial by the informants across the group.ResultsExtreme exhaustion exceeding the nature of everyday weariness was reported as the worst symptom. The informants perceived reduced muscular strength, continuous weakness and recurrent pain, problems related to memory and concentration, sleep disturbances and excessive sensitivity towards smell, light and sound. Learning abilities had deteriorated, and housework, conversation, reading and watching TV were characterised as exhausting, leading to an unpredictability of everyday life-disturbing social relations.ConclusionThe extent and nature of symptoms suggest that CSF is an essentially different and far more serious condition than the strains of everyday life. Our findings suggest immunological processes affecting the neuromuscular and central neural system comparable to the effects of cytostatic medication.

11 keywords...

hide…