At least 4 studies that looked at it all found that it was triggered by stress or viral infection. If you're aware of any other contrary evidence, I'm interested.
>Unfortunately I don't know any CFS patients that have recovered, or even gone into remission; for everyone I know, it's been a chronic condition.
Here on HN there is myself and tomhoward for starters, and I know lots of other patients who have also recovered. We tend not to post too much in CFS forums, though, due to the negativity and hostility towards recovered patients.
There is evidence relating to viral infections, yes. But is it really necessary to refer to such infections being "physiologically stressful"? I just don't see the relevance of that.
> Here on HN there is myself and tomhoward for starters, and I know lots of other patients who have also recovered
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply recovery wasn't possible, but re-reading my comment I can see how it might have come across that way.
Viral infections activate the HPA axis...that is what is meant by "physiologically stressful". See:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1224723/
The relevance is that stress seems to be the common factor as a trigger, and the stress system seems to be dysfunctional in CFS.
Unfortunately I don't know any CFS patients that have recovered, or even gone into remission; for everyone I know, it's been a chronic condition.