By Katrina H Berne, PhD
Hunter House, Inc., 1992.

This book is divided into three parts: 'What it is', 'What it does' and 'What to do'. The first part is a fairly standard, and very complete, description of what CFIDS is, symptoms it causes, what can trigger it off, and what to expect over time. The second part, which I really loved, is about how it effects people's lives - self-image, relationships, work, and so on, with a special chapter on the effects of CFIDS in children. Reading through the part listing feelings that chronic illness can bring up, I think I could relate to every single one on the three-page-long list!

The third section of the book contains a long list of possible treatments (those which were known in 1992, when the book was published) with the drawbacks and advantages of each, and also suggesting which treatments are best for which sets of symptoms. This felt far more up to date that I would have expected for a book that's now 5 years old!

The book also contains lengthy appendices with information about starting your own CFIDS support group and newsletter.