ABC of psychological medicine: fatigue

13 October 2002. Related: On the web.

Michael Sharpe, David Wilks.

Fatigue can refer to a subjective symptom of malaise and aversion to activity or to objectively impaired performance. It has both physical and mental aspects. The symptom of fatigue is a poorly defined feeling, and careful inquiry is needed to clarify complaints of “fatigue,” “tiredness,” or “exhaustion” and to distinguish lack of energy from loss of motivation or sleepiness, which may be pointers to specific diagnoses.

Reference:

BMJ 2002;325:480-483 ( 31 August ).

Full text at:
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7362/480