Etats dépressifs et syndrome de fatigue chronique : Old Wine in a New Bottle ?

Leclef, H. Janne, Pascal [UCL] Zdanowicz, Nicolas [UCL] Lejeune, Dominique [UCL] Reynaert, Christine [UCL]

Scientific literature about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) frequently reports considerable overlap in symptomatology between CFS and depressed patients. The aim of the present essay is to shed some light on the relationships of the two above mentioned nosographic « entities ». First, we will recall diagnostic criteria for these pathologies and their common symptoms. Second, we will present methodological difficulties which confront researchers and clinicians in the diagnosis of these patients. Different epidemiological data will be then examined before analysing the main existing hypotheses or/and models advanced to explain the cooccurence of symptoms. Finally, an integrative approach is suggested in order to cope with CFS phenomena.