Table 4

Scope for confusion: comparison of symptoms and diagnostic labels associated with a primarily genetic and a primarily psychosocial basis for ANS dysfunction

EDS/PoTSPost-abuse
Functional gastrointestinal disorder*Functional gastrointestinal disorder*
CFS*CFS*
Fibromyalgia*Fibromyalgia*
Migraine*Migraine*
Widespread chronic pain*Widespread chronic pain*
Concentration difficulty*Concentration difficulty*
Anxiety, panic*Anxiety, panic*
Emotional dysregulation†Emotional dysregulation*
Dissociative symptoms†Dissociative symptoms*
Non-epileptic seizures†Non-epileptic seizures*
  • *Peer reviewed journals.

  • †Commonly described by patients in support groups.

  • ANS, autonomic nervous system; EDS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; PoTS, postural tachycardia.