Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Maik Speedy
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

Letters1 December 2015Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue SyndromeMaik Speedy, MDMaik Speedy, MDFrom Perth, Western Australia, Australia.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L15-5170 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Smith and colleagues (1) conclude that “trials of … counseling therapies and graded exercise therapy [GET] suggest benefit for some … whereas evidence for … harms is insufficient.” As a physician bedridden with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) for more than a decade who is totally dependent on others, all thanks to a major relapse caused by GET, I am in a unique position to answer how harmful GET and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) really are. The basis of these therapies is false illness beliefs, meaning that it is all in the mind. These beliefs ignore all of the ...References1. Smith ME, Haney E, McDonagh M, Pappas M, Daeges M, Wasson N, et al. Treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162:841-50. [PMID: 26075755]. doi:10.7326/M15-0114 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Nijs J, Nees A, Paul L, De Kooning M, Ickmans K, Meeus M, et al. Altered immune response to exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic literature review. Exerc Immunol Rev. 2014;20:94-116. [PMID: 24974723] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Fluge Ø, Risa K, Lunde S, Alme K, Rekeland IG, Sapkota D, et al. B-Lymphocyte depletion in myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome An open-label phase II study with rituximab maintenance treatment. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0129898. [PMID: 26132314] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ME Association. Our CBT, GET and Pacing Report calls for major changes to therapies offered for ME/CFS. 29 May 2015. Accessed at www.meassociation.org.uk/2015/05/23959 on 18 July 2015. Google Scholar5. Falk Hvidberg M, Brinth LS, Olesen AV, Petersen KD, Ehlers L. The health-related quality of life for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). PLoS One. 2015;10:e0132421. [PMID: 26147503] doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0132421 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Perth, Western Australia, Australia.Disclosures: Authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterest Forms.do?msNum=L15-0444. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoDiagnostic Methods for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop Elizabeth Haney , M.E. Beth Smith , Marian McDonagh , Miranda Pappas , Monica Daeges , Ngoc Wasson , and Heidi D. Nelson Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Peter D. White , Daniel J. Clauw , Jos W.M. van der Meer , Rona Moss-Morris , and Renee R. Taylor Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sean B.M. Kirby Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Alem Matthees Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Lily Chu , Lucinda Bateman , Todd Davenport , Eleanor Stein , and Staci Stevens Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Tom Kindlon and Charles Shepherd Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome M.E. Beth Smith , Elizabeth Haney , and Heidi D. Nelson Metrics Cited byA Molecular Neurobiological Approach to Understanding the Aetiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease) with Treatment Implications 1 December 2015Volume 163, Issue 11Page: 884-885KeywordsCognitive behavior therapyEncephalomyelitisExerciseExercise therapyFatigueLung and intrathoracic tumorsMusclesQuality of lifeRenal failureStroke ePublished: 1 December 2015 Issue Published: 1 December 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...