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Understanding Fatigue in Major Depressive Disorder and Other Medical Disorders

Received July 25, 2007; revised August 24, 2007; accepted September 6, 2007. From the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Lesley M. Arnold, M.D., Medical Arts Building, 222 Piedmont Ave., Suite 8200, Cincinnati, OH 45219. e-mail: Lesley.Arnold{at}uc.edu
© 2008 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Although fatigue is a common symptom that occurs in many psychiatric and other medical disorders, the pathophysiological mechanisms of fatigue are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this review is to assess the state of knowledge about fatigue in depression and other disorders and identify new avenues for research in the study of fatigue. METHOD: The author reviewed some 50 articles in the field. CONCLUSION: An approach that emphasizes the similarities between fatigue and depression may improve the understanding of these complex syndromes. As more is learned about the neuropathology of the heterogeneous syndrome of depression, the etiology of many of the symptoms domains associated with depression, including fatigue, may become clearer.

Key Words: Fatigue • Depression

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