"Hitting A Moving Target': Defining Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
It's not too dramatic to state that how successful ME/CFS researchers will be is a function of how good a definition of ME/CFS they have. A poor definition will lead to inconsistent results and stagnation in the research field. A good definition on the other hand that will spark research efforts. A definition that emphasizes emotional aspects of ME/CFS will lead to a more psychological interpretation of the disease while one that emphasizes physiological aspects will lead researchers in that area.
Recently the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) created a controversial new definition of CFS. In this series of paper we take the definition apart to see what's in it, examine the controversy surrounding it and try to figure out what it holds for the future.
Hitting A Moving Target I: Defining and Quantifying
Hitting a Moving Target II: Defining and Quantifying CFS - Another Smoke Filled Room?, Testing the Definition - the Early Results, Increased Prevalence Rates - What Increased Prevalence Rates?, Metrosexual Problems in Georgia? and more.