Journal of IiMER on Child Psychiatry where it is stated baldly “CFS is the commonest psychosomatic illness in adolescence” 2) Use of the term “Biopsychosocial approach” as a further means of muddying the waters. (No one can object to the concept of a “biopsychosocial approach” in theory, as it is just another word for an holistic approach to any patient. However, the psychiatric lobby tend to use it excessively in their approach to ME/CFS, and then seem to forget the “bio” component! 3) Monopolising research and funding for ME/CFS for their own psychiatric agenda. Enormous sums have been involved and large research empires have been created. This all centres round CBT and GET, which have recently been called into question with major criticisms of the PACE trial. Again this has all happened because of the dearth of alternative proposals from those wishing to do research aimed at biological factors. (we should note that this, in turn, has been caused by the total lack of funding given to those biomedical research proposals which have been made – thus influencing attitudes in academia) 4) As already mentioned, the specialist centres are largely run by psychiatrists and psychologists. All this activity is carried on as if the CMO’s Final anecdote A GP phones an ME helpline for advice. He says “ I’m really worried I have developed ME”. Adviser clucks sympathetically. GP “That’s not the main problem – it’s just that I don’t know what to say to my colleagues” Further sympathetic cluck.. “You see, it has always been a policy of our practice to treat patients with ME with unremitting hostility, ridicule and rejection....So I can’t face telling my colleagues. I think I will just tell them I am suffering with depression ....”! report and NICE Guidelines did not exist, and as if there was not a growing body of evidence for biological causation of ME/CFS. Regarding the patient community, the psychiatric group steadfastly avert their gaze from the large number of severely affected patients, none of whom have responded to CBT or GET The current state of affairs - One still hears GPs saying “we don’t believe in ME in this practice” Adult patients have difficulty obtaining an official diagnosis of ME/CFS, and this can lead to them being deprived of benefits ME/CFS has effectively been downgraded from being an official medical condition to one that is unofficial and “controversial” There are a large number of severely affected adult patients and young people who are being neglected by the profession. Both GPs and consultants frequently refuse to do home visits on patients who are too unwell to attend surgery/outpatients. Most distressingly, a significant number of families of children with ME/CFS are being subjected to “Abuse by professionals” (see attached paper) Virtually no doctors are coming forward to establish an “ology” for ME www.investinme.org Page 41 of 82
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