Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Occupational Disruption in Primary Care: is there a Role for Occupational Therapy?

摘要

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a fluctuating and heterogeneous illness of uncertain aetiology (CFS/ME Working Group 2002), which can cause significant disability in terms of the effect upon the person's physical, cognitive, affective and spiritual aspects of occupational performance (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists [CAOT] 1997). The prognosis for those who develop CFS/ME is generally considered to be poor and people may be affected for less than 2 years or remain ill for several decades, but 'full recovery after symptoms have persisted for more than 5 years is rare' (CFS/ME Working Group, p7).