Researchers in Australia and Belgium surveyed medical students to discover how medical students classify a range of conditions they might encounter in their professional lives and whether a different name for a condition would influence their decision in the categorisation of the condition as a ‘disease’ or ‘not a disease’.

36 conditions were included in the survey. 96% thought Myalgic Encephalomyelitis was a disease while 75% thought Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was.

The data overall seems to suggest that the labelling of a condition may influence behaviour and how future doctors’ might manage them.

Do you think it’s a disease? A survey of medical students