Myalgic encephalomyelitis ME and chronic fatigue syndrome CFS are serious debilitating conditions that affect millions of people in the United States and around the world ME CFS can cause significant impairment and disability Despite substantial efforts by researchers to better understand ME CFS there is no known cause or effective treatment Diagnosing the disease remains a challenge and patients often struggle with their illness for years before an identification is made Some health care providers have been skeptical about the serious physiological rather than psychological nature of the illness Once diagnosed patients often complain of receiving hostility from their health care provider as well as being subjected to treatment strategies that exacerbate their symptoms Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome proposes new diagnostic clinical criteria for ME CFS and a new term for the illness systemic exertion intolerance disease SEID According to this report the term myalgic encephalomyelitis does not accurately describe this illness and the term chronic fatigue syndrome can result in trivialization and stigmatization for patients afflicted with this illness Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome stresses that SEID is a medical not a psychiatric or psychological illness This report lists the major symptoms of SEID and recommends a diagnostic process One of the report s most important conclusions is that a thorough history physical examination and targeted work up are necessary and often sufficient for diagnosis The new criteria will allow a large percentage of undiagnosed patients to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will be a valuable resource to promote the prompt diagnosis of patients with this complex multisystem and often devastating disorder enhance public understanding and provide a firm foundation for future improvements in diagnosis and treatment