Nuevas enfermedades ¿del alma? Reflexiones psicosomáticas a propósito de algunas analogías estructurales entre síndrome de fatiga crónica, fibromialgia y sensitividad química múltiple

Recent years have seen an increase in several illnesses located on the border between body and mind. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia (FM) and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) are particularly prominent members of this group. There is currently no scienti.c consensus on the etiology, pathogenesis and medical treatment of these maladies, and, consequently, no adequate clinical response has been formulated. Considering the lack of homogeneous criteria, the authors carry out a critical analysis from a comparative point of view. CFS, FM and CFS, seen from an interdisciplinary perspective, seem to be more the result of the simultaneous con.uence of multiple psychosocial factors than genuine organic diseases. Using the concepts of somatization and anxiety, the authors propose a complementary psychosomatic approach based on the structural analogies of CFS, FM and MCS.