PROFESSIONAL AND POPULAR VIEWS OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

Objective-To study the coverage of the chronic fatigue syndrome in the popular and professional press. Design-Search of all original researc h papers on the chronic fatigue syndrome published in British journals from 1980 onwards and of professional trade papers, national newspape rs, and women's magazines. Interviews with six medical journalists. Se tting-British scientific, medical, and popular press. Results-37 (49%) articles in research journals did not favour organic causes and 23 (3 1%) favoured organic causes. By contrast 31 (55%) cuticles in the medi cal trade press and 118 (69%) in national newspapers and women's magaz ines favoured organic causes. Conclusions-Press coverage of chronic fa tigue syndrome has amplified and distorted divisions in the research c ommunity concerning the chronic fatigue syndrome. Articles in the pres s concentrate on a simple medical model of illness reinforcing the sti gma of psychological illness and dissatisfaction with traditional medi cal authority.