Date sent: Sun, 30 Dec 2001 Jean Harrison A response from the WHO ---------------------- Addressed to MAME Mothers Against Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Inc 16th October 2001 Dear Ms Harrison I thank you for your letters dated 30th August and 6th September 2001 and wish to clarify the situation regarding the classification of neurasthenia, fatigue syndrome, post viral fatigue syndrome and benign myalgic encephalomyelitis. Let me state clearly that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not changed its position on these disorders since the publication of the Internationa Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition in 1992 and versions of it during later years Post viral fatigue syndrome remains under the diseases of nervous system as G93.3 Benign myalgic encephlaomyelitis is included within this category. Neurasthenia remains under mental and behavioural disorders as F48.0 and fatigue syndrome is included within this category. However, post-viral fatigue syndrome is explicitly excluded from F 48.0. The Who ICD-10 Diagnostic and Management Guidelines for Mental Disorders in Priamary care, 1996, includeds chronic fatigue under neurasthenia(F48.0), but does nto state or imply that conditions belonging to G93.3 should be included here. I would also like to state that the WHO's position concerning this is reflected in is publications and electronic material, including websites. It is possible that one of the several WHO Collaborating Centres in the United Kingdom presented a view that is at varience with WHO's position. Collaborating Centres are not obliged to seek approval from WHO for the material they publish. I understand that the Collaborating Centre concerned has now made changes to the information on their website after speaking with WHO. Should you have any further suggestions on changing the clsssification of these disorders, please send these to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence and they will be taken into account during the next revision of our classification. Yours sincerely Dr. B. Saraceno Director Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence.