The differential response of chronic fatigue, neurotic and muscular dystrophy patients to experimental psychological stress.

A group of patients suffering from chronic fatigue (CF) attending a medical clinic were compared with a group of muscular dystrophy (MD) patients from the same clinic and a psychiatric control (PC) group who were attending a psychiatric unit. A checklist was used to assess the patients' subjective physical and psychological state before and after exposure to a psychological stressor. For both physical and psychological symptoms the CF group had the largest response, the PC group was intermediate, and the MD group had the least response. Explanations may involve physiological arousal and attentional focusing.