Hoffmann, A, Linder, R, Kröger, B et al. · Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) · 1996 · DOI
This study compared fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to understand how they are similar and how they differ. Researchers examined patients with both conditions to identify shared symptoms and unique characteristics that could help doctors better recognize and distinguish between them.
Distinguishing between fibromyalgia and ME/CFS is clinically important because the two conditions are often confused or co-occur, yet may require different management approaches. This comparison helps patients and clinicians understand whether they have one condition, both, or related but distinct disorders, improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions.
This review article does not establish causal relationships or provide definitive diagnostic criteria. It cannot prove whether these are separate conditions or manifestations of a single underlying pathology, and it does not establish prevalence, natural history, or treatment efficacy for either condition.
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
Hoffmann, A, Linder, R, Kröger, B, Schnabel, A, & Krüger, G R (1996). [Fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Similarities and differences].. Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1043121
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-hoffmann-1996-fibromyalgia-syndrome,
author = {Hoffmann, A and Linder, R and Kröger, B and Schnabel, A and Krüger, G R},
title = {[Fibromyalgia syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Similarities and differences].},
journal = {Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)},
year = {1996},
doi = {10.1055/s-2008-1043121},
note = {PubMed: 8925737},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/hoffmann-1996-fibromyalgia-syndrome},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/hoffmann-1996-fibromyalgia-syndrome
Contribute
Private, reviewed by a human. Not a public comment thread.