• Ann Intern Med. 1994 Dec 15;121(12):953-9.

Comment in: 
Ann Intern Med. 1995 Jul 1;123(1):74-5. 
Ann Intern Med. 1995 Jul 1;123(1):75; author reply 76. 
Ann Intern Med. 1995 Jul 1;123(1):75; author reply 76. 
Ann Intern Med. 1995 Jul 1;123(1):75; author reply 76. 

The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Study Group.

Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I, Sharpe MC, Dobbins JG, Komaroff A.

Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333.

The complexities of the chronic fatigue syndrome and the methodologic problems associated with its study indicate the need for a comprehensive, systematic, and integrated approach to the evaluation, classification, and study of persons with this condition and other fatiguing illnesses. We propose a conceptual framework and a set of guidelines that provide such an approach. Our guidelines include recommendations for the clinical evaluation of fatigued persons, a revised case definition of the chronic fatigue syndrome, and a strategy for subgrouping fatigued persons in formal investigations.