Depression is sometimes misdiagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Depression.

Depression is a mental health disorder that causes a persistent negative thoughts and feelings. It causes the patient issues in functioning normally in day to day life and can lead to suicidal thoughts. Symptoms include feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness and hopelessness, angry outbursts, irritability and frustration, loss of interest and pleasure in activities, sleep disturbances, tiredness, reduced appetite, slowed thinking, feelings of worthlessness, trouble concentrating, and thoughts of death. Conditions that depression can be misdiagnosed as include anaemia, anxiety, ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, bipolar disorder, diabetes, cyclothymic disorder, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, posttraumatic stress disorder, hypercalcemia, vitamin D deficiency, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Emptiness, sadness, tearfulness, slowed thinking or speaking, slow body movements, hopelessness, angry outbursts, reduced appetite, weight loss, anxiety or agitation or restlessness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, trouble thinking or concentrating, trouble making decisions and remembering things, frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide, unexplained physical problems, irritability or frustration, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, sleep disturbances, tiredness and lack of energy

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

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