What to read after Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury?

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury provides a summary of information from a conference on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia syndrome (FS), and related disorders. Many of the contributors are known for being actively involved in the study of the target disorders and represent countries around the world. In addition to health professionals, the contributors represent the legal profession and the insurance industry of Canada.

The unique feature of this volume is its emphasis on disability and compensation. In Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury readers will find concise summaries of the formal presentations given at the Vancouver Conference in July 1994. The underlying tenor in the chapters is on viewing affective (psychological) pathology as a contributor to the underlying processes of these disorders. Readers are encouraged to follow closely the logic of each author's academic exercise. They will find that in many cases, the authors provoke more answers than they are able to answer, in the hope of promoting continued research toward finding concrete answers.

The conference was designed to address etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment, disability, medico-legal issues and cost containment. The program agenda was issue driven rather than condition based. The papers were presented in a manner which allowed delegates and speakers to see the overlap and differences between these conditions.

The purpose of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury is to provide education for primary care physicians, specialist physicians, other health care disciplines, patients, and the public. A second purpose is to enable investigators in the three topic areas to get new information from specialists around the world to develop new ideas, which will inform future research and consensus.