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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is marked by persistent, disabling fatigue and a variety of flu-like and depressive symptoms. Because many patients also meet criteria for major depression, there is continued debate about whether CFS is a variant of a mood disorder or primarily an immune system disorder with secondary depressive symptoms. Although many CFS patients reportedly benefit from antidepressants, this is the first randomized, placebo-controlled study to compare an antidepressant (fluoxetine) with placebo for treating CFS.
Of the 107 patients involved in the study, 48 had comorbid major depression (Beck Depression Scores over 16), and 59 did not (scores below 10). Researchers measured physical and psychologic symptoms, disability, and …