er diseases. What they are studying is standard health psychology and they=
have been doing that for many years. Other psychologists have also assesse=
d the value of treatments like CBT in patients with MS=2C RA and other diso=
rders. I recently saw an excellent=2C balanced=2C evidence-based review by=
Prof. Chalder on the psychosocial aspects of MS. It is known that stress c=
an trigger relapses in MS and that CBT can reduce emotional distress of dis=
eases like MS=2C AIDS and RA. Whether it is superior to other interventions=
remains unclear. =20
=20
At the moment=2C there is no evidence that the APA willl add CFS to DSM V. =
I therefore suggest that anyone wishing to help PWCFS focus on more pressin=
g issues and for example=2C promote the pragmatic=2C acceptable alternative=
s to CBT which have been described in the literature (eg as the 'best optio=
n' in PEC=2C Van Houdenhove and Luytens). These programmes increase choice=
and may be more appropriate for a significant proportion of patients.=20
=20
The risk is that the lack of knowledge of health psychology and the focus o=
n personalities may undermine the efforts of others to improve the understa=
nding and treatment of CFS. People involved in committees are perfectly cap=
able of making decisions irrespective of their own preferences=2C e.g. to r=
ecommend two treatments=2C one of which they don't personally offer. Indeed=
=2C commitees which include a range of opinions help to limit the influence=
of personal bias. It is therefore in our favour to request that committees=
dealing with CFS and ME include a range of different opinions=2C without d=
iverting attention using negative strategies e.g. casting aspertions on wha=
t is really sound research on other patient populations.=20
=20
I submit that we need greater knowledge more than fear based on speculation=
=2C let alone criticisms of individuals based on 'confusion' and insinuatio=
n.=20
=20
----------------------------------------------------------------------=20
Dr. Ellen M. Goudsmit C.Psychol. FBPsS=20
Health Psychologist
=20
Visiting Research Fellow UEL
=20
=20
For information on ME and CFS=2C see:=20
http://freespace.virgin.net/david.axford/melist.htm=20
*** This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and solely for the inf=
ormation of the addressee. Any copying or disclosure to a third party is un=
authorised and the sender is not responsible for any matter resulting from =
changes to the text made by a third party.=20
=20
=
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