FIBROMYALGIA AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME - SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are clinical cond itions characterized by a variety of nonspecific symptoms including pr ominent fatigue, myalgia, and sleep disturbances. There are no diagnos tic studies or widely accepted pathogenic, explanatory models for eith er illness. Despite remarkably different diagnostic criteria, CFS and FM have many demographic and clinical similarities. Although few diffe rences exist in the domains of symptoms, examination findings, laborat ory tests, functional status, psychosocial features, and psychiatric d isorders, FM appears to represent an additional burden of suffering am ong those with CFS.