Henningsen, P, Martin, A · Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) · 2013 · DOI
ME/CFS is characterized by persistent, severe fatigue that cannot be traced to a known medical condition. This guideline emphasizes that ME/CFS should be understood as a functional somatic syndrome, meaning the body's systems aren't working optimally even though traditional tests may appear normal. Treatment recommendations include cognitive behavioral therapy and gradually increasing physical activity, which have shown evidence of benefit.
This guideline provides structured clinical recommendations for ME/CFS diagnosis and management from established medical authorities, helping standardize care approaches across healthcare systems. It emphasizes the importance of addressing psychological and social factors alongside physical symptoms, which can improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes for patients.
This guideline does not establish the underlying biological mechanisms of ME/CFS or prove that psychological factors are the primary cause of the condition. It also does not present new empirical data comparing treatment efficacy; rather, it synthesizes existing evidence and provides recommendations for clinical practice.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Henningsen, P & Martin, A (2013). [Chronic fatigue syndrome].. Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1327358
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-henningsen-2013-chronic-fatigue,
author = {Henningsen, P and Martin, A},
title = {[Chronic fatigue syndrome].},
journal = {Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1055/s-0032-1327358},
note = {PubMed: 23250694},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/henningsen-2013-chronic-fatigue},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/henningsen-2013-chronic-fatigue
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