ME/CFS: A Primer For Clinical Practitioners

ME/CFS: A Primer for Clinical Practitioners - 2014 Edition is a medical primer, written for clinical practitioners by the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME). The primer was first written in 2012, then updated in 2014.

Dr. Fred Friedberg was the chair person of the writing committee for the 2014 edition. Other members of the writing committee include: Rosemary Underhill, MB, BS; Lucinda Bateman, MD; Alison Bested, MD; Todd Davenport, DPT; Kenneth Friedman, PhD, Alan Gurwitt, MD; Leonard Jason, PhD; Charles Lapp, MD; Staci Stevens, MA; and Rosamund Vallings, MB, BS. Anthony Komaroff, MD wrote the foreword to the Primer.

Renée Rabache donated the cover art for this primer. ^p3

To obtain a copy

• Download or print (2014 edition)

• The Book Patch

• Spiral bound copy (IACFS/ME)

Citation

International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; Friedberg, Fred; Bateman, Lucinda; Bested, Alison C; Davenport, Todd; Friedman, Kenneth J; Gurwitt, Alan R; Jason, Leonard A; Lapp, Charles W; Stevens, Staci R; Underhill, Rosemary A; Vallings, Rosamund (2014), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Primer for Clinical Practitioners (PDF), Chicago, USA: International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

See also

• ME/CFS: A Primer for Clinical Practitioners - 2014 Edition
• International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.