Chronic fatigue syndrome

Virtually everyone feels tired, or even exhausted, every now and again. We usually know why this has come about and the feeling wears off, either spontaneously or after a little extra rest. This is not the case with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFS patients feel perpetually tired and exhausted and also have a host of other physical complaints. CFS is also known as ‘ME’ (myalgic encephalomyelitis), a term that the Committee does not use since it erroneously implies the presence of an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.  CFS is a controversial disorder. There are people both within and outside the world of medicine who believe that it does exist, and others who believe that it does not. This situation has given rise to major differences of opinion concerning the ability of CFS patients to work, and thus to their entitlement to social security benefit.

Committee

• Dr E Borst-Eilers, former Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, Bilthoven, Chair
• Prof. JM Bensing, Professor of Health Psychology, University of Utrecht
  Director of the Netherlands Institute for Research into Health Care (NIVEL), Utrecht
• Prof. G Bleijenberg, Professor of Medical Psychology, St Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen
• Dr CF Dagnelie, general practitioner, Rotterdam, lecturer in family medicine, University Medical Centre, Utrecht
• Prof. MHW Frings-Dresen, Professor of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Centre, Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Amsterdam
• Prof. JJ Heijnen, Professor of Psychoneuroimmunology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht
• Dr AM van Hemert, psychiatrist and epidemiologist, Parnassia Addiction Research Centre (PARC), The Hague
• Prof. B Van Houdenhove, Professor of Psychiatry, University Hospitals, Leuven
• Dr H Kroneman, medical consultant UWV, Amsterdam
• Prof. SJW Lamberts, Professor of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• Prof. JWM van der Meer, Professor of Internal Medicine, St Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen
• Dr B Terluin, general practitioner, Almere, academic staff member, family medicine, Free University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam
• PC Groeneveld, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, advisor
• IMJ Pieters, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, The Hague, advisor
• Dr YA van Duivenboden, Health Council, The Hague, secretary
• Ş Levent, Health Council, The Hague, project assistant