Wiesmüller, Gerhard A, Hornberg, Claudia · Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2017 · DOI
This editorial discusses several conditions that seem related to environmental exposures and stress, including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities. The authors explain that we don't yet fully understand what causes these conditions or how to diagnose and treat them properly. They emphasize that doctors should take patients seriously and help them even while research continues to find answers.
This editorial validates that ME/CFS is recognized as part of a broader category of environmental medical syndromes, affirming patient experiences while acknowledging that medical science still needs better understanding. It emphasizes the importance of clinician validation and ongoing research to develop effective treatments for conditions like ME/CFS that currently lack definitive biological markers.
This editorial does not establish the specific causes, mechanisms, or optimal treatments for any of these conditions. It does not prove whether these syndromes share a common biological basis or have distinct etiologies. It does not determine whether environmental factors, psychological factors, or somatization play the primary role in any particular condition.
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Primary citation
Wiesmüller, Gerhard A & Hornberg, Claudia (2017). [Environmental medical syndromes].. Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-017-2546-5
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-wiesmller-2017-environmental-medical,
author = {Wiesmüller, Gerhard A and Hornberg, Claudia},
title = {[Environmental medical syndromes].},
journal = {Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1007/s00103-017-2546-5},
note = {PubMed: 28447135},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/wiesmller-2017-environmental-medical},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/wiesmller-2017-environmental-medical
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