Unrefreshing sleep

Unrefreshing sleep is a core symptom in the diagnosis of SEID (ME/CFS).

Prevalence

The "Report Guide for Clinicians" by the IOM and a part of the Institute of Medicine report states: "Despite the absence of a specific objective alteration in sleep architecture, the data are strong that the complaint of unrefreshing sleep is universal among patients with ME/CFS (SEID) when questions about sleep specifically address this issue. While polysomnography is not required to diagnose ME/CFS (SEID), its use to screen for treatable sleep disorders when indicated is appropriate. Diagnosis of a primary sleep disorder does not rule out a diagnosis of ME/CFS (SEID)."

Symptom recognition

• In the Fukuda criteria, the symptom of unrefreshing sleep can be used to help form a diagnosis.

Notable studies

• 2016, Prevalencia de síntomas de fatiga crónica / encefalomielitis miálgica (SFC/EM) y su relación con factores ocupacionales en trabajadores en una empresa de vigilancia en Bogotá, Colombia (Jonathan Kerr) Note: This study did not use PEM as a inclusionary symptom nor did it use any Definitions of ME and CFS including the most symptom liberal of valid definitions, SEID. The only entry criteria noted were fatigue and muscle pain which seem to be the broadest and loose of symptom definitions Reeves criteria and Oxford criteria.
• 1997, Sleep anomalies in the chronic fatigue syndrome. A comorbidity study.

Learn more

• 2016, How I sleep at night

systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) - A term for ME/CFS that aims to avoid the stigma associated with the term "chronic fatigue syndrome", while emphasizing the defining characteristic of post-exertional malaise (PEM). SEID was defined as part of the diagnostic criteria put together by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report of 10 February 2015.