Wessely, S · Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health · 1997
This article examines how ME/CFS became recognized as a medical illness in modern times. The condition was largely unknown and unnamed until the 1980s, when it emerged under various labels including 'chronic Epstein-Barr virus syndrome' and later 'chronic fatigue syndrome.' The author discusses how different countries use different names for the condition and explores connections between ME/CFS and the concept of somatization—when stress or psychological factors manifest as physical symptoms.
This historical perspective helps patients understand how their condition was recognized and named, and why different regions use different terminology. For researchers, it contextualizes the conceptual frameworks used in early CFS research and highlights the importance of accurate nomenclature and case definitions in advancing the field.
This editorial does not establish the etiology, pathophysiology, or diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. It does not prove that CFS is primarily psychological or psychosomatic—the author merely notes that understanding somatization may provide insights. The article's focus on nomenclature and history does not validate or refute any specific biological or psychological mechanism underlying the 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
Wessely, S (1997). Chronic fatigue syndrome: a 20th century illness?. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9456063/
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-wessely-1997-chronic-fatigue,
author = {Wessely, S},
title = {Chronic fatigue syndrome: a 20th century illness?},
journal = {Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health},
year = {1997},
note = {PubMed: 9456063},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/wessely-1997-chronic-fatigue},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/wessely-1997-chronic-fatigue
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