Unusual Symptoms

CFIDS Radial Plot


"...presented at the London Myalgic Encephalomyelitis conference in April 1990.

"Like many other measures, it is a subjective evaluation of certain symptoms and their severity.  In this respect it shares the drawbacks of other methods.  However, this method requires a certain diagnostic pattern of symptoms to produce the high scores characteristically seen in CFIDS. Therefore, it is theoretically possible to differentiate CFIDS from other illnesses such as depression and somatization" See Graph


CDIFS Diagnostic Criteria
Fatigue How much fatigue, tiredness, or exhaustion do you experience? 9
Headache How severe are headaches? 0
Sore Throat How much of a problem is sore throat? 0
Lymph Pain How much of a problem is pain in your lymph nodes? 0
Joint Pain How much of a problem is pin in your joints? 0
Muscle Pain How much of a problem is pain or aching in your muscles? 8
Abdominal Pain How much of a problem is abdominal pain, bloating, or gas? 2
Rash How much of a problem are rashes? 0
Memory How much of a problem is memory loss or difficulty with concentration? 8
Other Neuro How much concern is numbness, tingling, dizziness, or balance problems? 3
Sleep Disorder How much of a problem is poor sleep, insomnia, or waking unrefreshed? 0
Depression How much of a problem is depression, mood changes, or panic attacks? 10
Range:  From 0 to 10.  0=Small, 10=Large

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CDIFS Diagnostic Criteria Graph

Triangle Area Calculations


Area of Fatigue-Depression triangle     8x10/4=20
Area of Other Neuro-Memory triangle     8x3/4 = 6
                                        ---------
Total Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Note: The area of a triangle is "(side1 x side2)/2" not "(side1 x side2)/4."  The area in the triangles on my graph should be 52.  The examples in the book are consistently "/4."  Keeping consistent with the examples in the book, the total area under the triangles on my graph would be 26.

Reference: "The doctor's Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" pages: 125-131.  copyright 1995, 1994 David S. Bell, M.D. pub: Addison Wesley, paper back edition ISBN: 0-201-40797-3