. 2021 Aug 24;13(9):1027–1043. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12684

TABLE 3.

National Aademy of Sciences proposed diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS

Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for ME/CFS

Diagnosis requires that the patient has the following three symptoms:

1. A substantial reduction or impairment in the ability to engage in preillness levels of occupational, education, social, or personal activities that persists for more than 6 months and is accompanied by fatigue, which is often profound, is of new or definite onset (not lifelong), is not the result of ongoing excessive exertion, and is not substantially alleviated by rest,

2. Postexertional malaise^a and

3. Unrefreshing sleep^a

At least one of the following manifestations is also required:

1. Cognitive impairment^a or

2. Orthostatic intolerance

Reproduced with permission.

^{^a}

Frequency and severity of symptoms should be assessed. The diagnosis of ME/CFS should be questioned if patients do not have these symptoms at least half of the time with moderate, substantial, or severe intensity.

Abbreviation: ME/CFS, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.