Milieu Issues in the Treatment of a Person With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Abstract

The name "chronic fatigue syndrome" (CFS) was officially introduced in 1988 to de scribe a complex of symptoms that include debilitating fatigue that worsens with physical activity, flulike symptoms, immune dysfunction, and cognitive problems. A high prevalence of psychiatric illness, particularly depression, has also been ob served in patients with CFS. Because the treatment needs of a depressed person with CFS differ from the needs addressed by traditional treatment of depression, psychi atric nurses must modify their approach to patients with CFS. Management of the milieu in an inpatient psychiatric unit can be an effective strategy in the treatment of a person with CFS. (J AM PSYCHIATR NURSES Assoc [1995]. 1, 12-15)

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