Journal of IiME Volume 3 Issue 1 www.investinme.org The 4th Invest in ME International ME/CFS Conference 2009 (continued) the sometimes acrimonious and bitter debates about the nature of the illness. The imprecise word fatigue has been used by some psychiatrists to label ME as a behavioural and mental disorder. Such disorders are classified under F.48.0 which includes chronic fatigue and fatigue syndromes that are quite distinct from neurological conditions. Today the diagnosis, treatment and management of ME are bedevilled by these two conflicting understandings of the illness leaving People with ME (PWME) frequently marooned, mistreated and misunderstood both medically and socially. C CPPDD AAcc ccrr eeddii tteedd The most severely disabled patients have suffered the greatest neglect. Exciting new possibilities for treatment that can change the lives of patients offer new hope for their future. M Maannaaggeemmeenntt,, TTrreeaattmmeennttss aanndd tthhee L Laatteesstt AAddvvaanncceess iinn RReesseeaarrcchh iinnttoo M MEE//CCFFSS O Onnee BBii rrddccaaggee WWaa llkk ,, WWeess ttmmii nnss ttee rr ,, LLoonnddoonn It is particularly apt that this 4th Conference is specially concerned with the severely disabled who have born the brunt of the present obdurate, heartless and official views of ME that treat sick patients and their carers so cruelly. It is a joy to welcome the speakers for this conference who come from the USA, Norway, Belgium as well as the UK. The Whittemore-Peterson Institute, WPI, offers both challenge and hope to the world of ME with the “can do” energy and commitment so Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) The third arm of the Institute involves research studies that address the nature of the illness and lay the foundations for new understanding and treatments of ME. Judy Mikovits, Research Director of the WPI, presents her insights in to the diagnosis of the difficult and most complex ME cases. Diagnosis is the key to clinical treatment and definitions of ME are crucial for managing and effectively treating individual patients. An institute that brings patients, clinicians and research workers together can provide a springboard for major advances in the ME. The WPI provides such a working paradigm and is a challenge to every country where ME is a major health issue. John Chia has done great service by providing clear evidence of the role of enteroviruses in ME. Their role first identified by earlier workers in the field including, John Richardson, Irving Spurr, Byron Hyde and others, has been confirmed and extended by John’s work. His story makes it essential that the microbiological services that have been dismantled in this country must be re-established to support clinical need and research into Page 57/76 typical of the American response to any daunting situation. This Institute provides a working model of how to engage with ME and the growing number of complex CMIs that are emerging in today’s world. Annette Whittemore has provided the resources to bring the Institute into being and has an inspiring story to tell of how love, care and sheer ‘guts’ has realised a model for the rest of the world to follow. Dan Peterson is the Medical Director of the WPI and has long wrestled with ME and provided hope, expert clinical care and understanding for numerous patients and carers for PWME.
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