Diagnostics

Doctors are unfamiliar with the disease and therefore misdiagnose it," says Professor Scheibenbogen. In fact, according to the IQWiG status report, ME/CFS is not explicitly included in the catalogue of medical learning objectives. Although the disease is now mentioned in guidelines, for example in the S1 guideline on long/post-COVID, there is no German-language guideline specifically for ME/CFS. "Instead of the correct diagnosis, neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders are then incorrectly diagnosed," says Scheibenbogen.

ME/CFS has been officially recognised as a neurological disorder for more than 50 years and is considered the most severe form of long COVID – yet it remains highly controversial in neurology, of all fields. In this interview, Charité professor Harald Prüß explains where his professional association stands and when those affected can hope for treatments.

Conditions such as long COVID and post-COVID syndrome, as well as ME/CFS, are incorrectly classified as mental illnesses. Such misdiagnoses prevent adequate treatment, and incorrect treatment can cause serious harm in some cases. Social and financial problems are also a consequence.