Chronic fatigue syndrome and psychoneuroimmunology

Chronic fatigue syndrome was defined clinically by a Centers for Disease Control committee only recently (Holmes et al., 1988). Somewhat earlier Straus et al. (1985) employed the term Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome to essentially the same disorder. This syndrome is of uncertain etiology–but may have relevance to the field of psychoneuroimmunology. As its immunologic abnormalities are better understood, and the psychosocial and psychoneurologic ramifications described, the possibility of psychoneuroimmunologic pathways in the both the etiology and persistence of this illness should be entertained. Further, behavioral interventions may have a place in treatment.