Functioning with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Functioning with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) was first proposed as a disorder in 1988, but the underlying symptoms have been observed in patients for far longer. Determining which issues belong together and how they are caused is a complex and often very long process, so the emergence of CFS as a distinct syndrome has taken some time. But while it is still unknown exactly how CFS develops, it is now widely recognized as a particular set of neuropsychological problems.

These problems are not identical across patients, but generally fall within a circle of issues. Most consistent, of course, is fatigue, or a continual sense of tiredness, even when not much energy has been expended. Patients commonly spend years following advice to adjust their diets or schedules to no avail, when in reality the level of exhaustion they are experiencing is distinctly outside the norm. Applied neuropsychology labs are currently investigating what may exist genetically or environmentally that causes CFS. Patients often suffer from depression and sleep issues as well, although the relationship between these symptoms is complicated.

Issues with CFS of particular concern to applied neuropsychology include the loss or depreciation of certain mental or cognitive skills. These are usually associated with a general feeling of being in a "brain fog" or otherwise unable to function properly. An inability to concentrate or really think hard about anything is an example of this, as is a short attention span. Also in this category is the slowing down of one's mental processing speed the realization that it's taking longer than it should to figure something out. Being forgetful, or what in applied neuropsychology would be considered a loss of short term memory, is another such symptom.

There are also physical symptoms, but most of them are self-reported, rather than problems a doctor can view and treat externally. Most commonly patients will suffer from severe muscle pain or joint pain, often most noticeable upon waking. These symptoms do not present externally with swollen or reddened areas but are more like an extreme extension of the sense of exhaustion that pervades the syndrome. Another common issue faced by those dealing with CFS is the onset of headaches, and some also report soreness in the throat and tenderness in the lymph glands. These symptoms cause real pain, but since the syndrome may be caused by the patient's own immune system, applied neuropsychology has an interest in investigating the cause.

Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are limited at the moment. Many doctors begin with the treatment of certain symptoms. This can range from anti-depressants to pain medications depending on the patient. Some practitioners opt to treat fatigue in more standard ways, such as working on exercise schedules, sleep schedules, checking for low blood pressure, or even trying cognitive behavioral therapy. Research into anti-virals, immune system and Alzheimer's drugs for CFS has not been successful yet, but applied neuropsychology has found stimulants a hopeful path.

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