References

Compston ND An outbreak of encephalomyelitis in the Royal Free Hospital Group, London, in 1955. Postgrad Med J. 1978; 54:722-724 https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.54.637.722

Hooper M Myalgic encephalomyelitis: a review with emphasis on key findings in biomedical research. J Clin Pathol. 2007; 60:466-471 https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.2006.042408

Address to the International ME/CFS Conference, London. 2006. https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf (accessed 14 January 2025)

Mandarano AH, Maya J, Giloteaux L Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients exhibit altered T cell metabolism and cytokine associations. J Clin Invest. 2020; 130:(3)1491-1505 https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI132185

McEvedy CP, Beard AW Royal Free Epidemic of 1955: A Reconsideration. BMJ. 1970; 1:(5687)7-11 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5687.7

Maeve Boothby-O'Neill's harrowing case highlights clashing NHS narratives on ME. 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/27/maeve-boothby-oneills-harrowing-case-highlights-clashing-nhs-narratives-on-me (accessed 12 January 2025)

Scheibenbogen C, Wirth KJ Key Pathophysiological Role of Skeletal Muscle Disturbance in Post COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): Accumulated Evidence. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2025; 16:(1) https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.13669

An outbreak of encephalomyelitis in the Royal Free Hospital Group, London, in 1955. BMJ. 1957; 2:(5050)895-904 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.5050.895

Underhill R, Baillod R Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Organic Disease or Psychosomatic Illness? A Re-Examination of the Royal Free Epidemic of 1955. Medicina. 2021; 57 https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57010012

Weir W, Speight N ME/CFS: Past, Present and Future. Healthcare. 2021; 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9080984

Chronic fatigue syndrome

02 February 2025
Volume 7 · Issue 2

Abstract

In this month's article, George Winter looks at the history of chronic fatigue syndrome and current efforts to develop therapeutics for the condition

Writing on the competing narratives of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), Dr Alastair Miller notes that he has ‘… been involved in the diagnosis and management of this condition since the mid-1980s …’ (Miller, 2024). Yet, despite his long involvement, Miller perpetuates an inaccurate account of the documented origins of ME/CFS, noting: ‘Indeed, the original description of ME at the Royal Free hospital in 1955 was attributed to mass hysteria’ (Miller, 2024). This sentence, so freighted with ambiguity, invites the inference that The Medical Staff of the Royal Free Hospital (1957) attributed ME to mass hysteria in their original report. They did no such thing.

Rather, their report describes an outbreak that affected the lymphatic, muscular, and nervous systems. But 15 years were to elapse before two psychiatrists, McEvedy and Beard (1970), wrote: ‘The occurrence of a mass hysterical reaction shows not that the population is psychologically abnormal but merely that it is socially segregated and consists predominantly of young females.’

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Journal of Prescribing Practice and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for prescribing professionals. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to our clinical or professional articles

  • New content and clinical newsletter updates each month