Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis as a twentieth-century disease: Analytic challenges

Author(s): Bennett, A., Holland, P.

Journal/Book: J Anal Psychol. 1997; 42: 11 New Fetter Lane, London, England EC4P 4EE. Routledge. 191-199.

Abstract: The challenges of chronic fatigue syndrome (often called myalgic encephalomyelitis, especially in the UK) (CFS/ME) to analytical and medical approaches are connected with our inability to understand its distressing somatic symptoms in terms of a single identifiable and understandable disease entity. The evidence for the roles of viral aetiologies remains inconclusive, as does our understanding of the involvement of the immune system. The history and social context of CFS/ME, and its relation to neurasthenia and psychasthenia are sketched. A symbolic attitude to the condition may need to be rooted in an awareness of psychoid levels of operation, and the expression and spread of CFS/ME may sometimes be aided by the ravages of projective identification. Psychic denial, sometimes violent, in sufferers (especially children and adolescents) and their families may be important in the aetiology of CFS/ME. We draw out common threads from psychodynamic work with five cases, four showing some symptomatic improvement, analytic discussions of three cases being presented elsewhere in this issue of JAP.

Note: Article Simpson M, 2 Cottons Field, Dry Drayton, Cambridge CB3 8DG, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): chronic fatigue syndrome; myalgic encephalomyelitis; immune system; psychoid; projective identification; somatization; virus

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