The Challenge of CFS/ME in Primary Care

Abstract

CFS/ME is one of general practice’ s more challenging conditions to manage. The primary care perspective allows the doctor to get closer to the lived experience of people with medically unexplained fatigue than is possible in other medical contexts. General practitioners (GPs) are exposed to emotional tens ions which are reflected in a wide range of attitudes towards patients with the symptoms of CFS/ME. I describe some of the emotional responses triggered by CFS/ME in both patients and doctors and then explore what lies behind GPs ’ different attitudes towards CFS/ME. The question of diagnostic labelling arises in a unique way in general practice and I discuss barriers to the diagnosis of CFS/ME in primary care. The chapter ends with the observations of patients on their experiences of CFS/ME in a primary care setting.