Factsheet: Literature from updates 2008

 

SOME FACTS ABOUT M.E./PVFS/CFS

Evidence of ongoing infection.

Beqaj, SH., Lerner, AM and Fitzgerald, JT. Immunoassay with cytomegalovirus early antigens from gene products p52 and CM2 (UL44 and UL57) detect active infection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2008, 61, 623-626.

Chia, JKS and Chia, AY. Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with chronic enterovirus infection of the stomach. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2008, 61, 43-48.

 

Evidence for post-exertional abnormalities, which is unlikely to be due to deconditioning.

VanNess, JM., Snell, CR and Stevens, SR. Diminished cardiopulmonary capacity during post-exertional malaise. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2007, 14, 2, 77-85.

 

Evidence for subgroups.

Jason, L.A., Corradi, K., & Torres-Harding, S. Toward an empirical case definition of CFS. Journal of Social Service Research, 2007, 34, 43-54.

Kerr, J., Burke, B., Petty, R., Gough, J., Fear, D., David, M., Axford, J., Dalgleish, A and Nutt D. Seven genomic subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): a detailed analysis of gene networks and clinical phenotypes. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2008, 61, 730-739.

 

Evidence for multi-component programmes including pacing.

Jason, LA., Torres-Harding, S., Friedberg, F., Corradi, K., Njoku, MG., Donalek, J., Reynolds, N., Brown, M. Weitner, BB., Rademaker, A and Papernik, M. Non-pharmacologic interventions for CFS: a randomized trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Set-tings, 2007, 14, 4, 275-296.

 

Data on the impact of CFS compared to other chronic diseases.

Núñez, M., Núñez, E., del Val, JL., Fernández-Huerta, JM., Alegre, C., Bonet, M., Roig, D., Gomez, E., Godás, T and Fernández-Solà, J. Health-related quality of life in chronic fatigue syndrome versus rheumatoid arthritis as control group. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 20007, 14, 2, 31-43.

See also long term follow-up study:

  • Andersen, MM., Permin, H and Albrecht F. Nine-year follow-up of Danish chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients: impact on health, social, vocational, and personal lives. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2007, 14, 2, 7-23.

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    Data showing effects of CBT may have been overstated.

    Malouff, JM., Thorsteinsson, EB., Rooke, SE., Bhullar, N and Schutte, NS. Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 2008, 28, 5, 736-745.

     

     

    Importance of sound information given to doctors.

    Lu, TV., Torres-Harding, SR and Jason, LA. The effectiveness of early educational intervention in improving future physicians' attitudes regarding CFS/FM. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2007, 14, 2, 25-30.

     

     

    Discussion of pacing

    Nijs, J., Paul, L and Wallman, K. Chronic fatigue syndrome: An approach combining self-management with graded exercise to avoid exacerbations. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2008, 40, 4, 241-247.

    Evaluation of therapeutic aspects of CBT and counselling. Expression and acceptance of distress (emotional processing) is more important than type of therapy.

    Godfrey, E., Chalder, T., Ridsdale, L., Seed, P and Ogden, J. Investigating the ‘active ingredients’ of cognitive behaviour therapy and counselling for patients with chronic fatigue in primary care: Developing a new process measure to assess treatment fidelity and predict outcome. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2007, 46, 253-272.

     

    Evidence for subroups and the importance for management.

    Jason, LA., Torres-Harding, S., Brown, M., Sorenson, M., Donalek, J., Corradi, K., Maher, K and Fletcher, MA. Predictors of change following participation in non-pharmacologic interventions for CFS. Tropical Medicine and Health, 2008, 36, 1, 23-32.

     

    Evidence that multiple chemical sensitivity is not somatised anxiety

    Bloch, RM and Meggs, WJ. Comorbidity patterns of self-reported chemical sensitivity, allergy, and other medical illnesses with anxiety and depression. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, 2007, 16, 2, 136–148.

     

    Evidence for an association between CFS and candida

    Evengård, B., Gräns, H., Wahlund, E and Nord, CE. Increased number of Candida albicans in the faecal microflora of chronic fatigue syndrome patients during the acute phase of illness. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2007, 42, 1514-1515.

     

    Evidence of an abnormal response to exercise

    Neary, JP., Roberts, ADW., Leavins, N., Harrison, MF., Croll., JC and Sexsmith, JR. Prefrontal cortex oxygenation during incremental exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome. Clinical Physiology Functional Imaging, 2008, 28, 6, 364-372.

     

    Evidence of the severity of CFS

    Dancy, CP and Friend, J. Symptoms, impairment and illness intrusiveness - their relationship with depression in women with CFS/ME. Psychology and Health, 2008, 23, 8, 983-999.

    Evidence that cortical atrophy can be reversed with CBT

    De Lange, FP., Koers, A., Kalkman, JS and Bleijenberg, G., Hagoort, P, van de Meer, JWM and Toni, I. Increase in prefrontal cortical volume following cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Brain, 2008, 131, 2172-2180.

    NB. This paper provides the first evidence that CBT results in an increase in activity levels.

    See critical comments by Bramsen. I. Brain Advance Access published on August 29, 2008. doi:10.1093/brain/awn207 plus reply by de Lange (Ibid, doi:10.1093/brain/awn208).

    The Chalder Fatigue Scale cannot differentiate between classic ME and CFS. Methodological flaws mean that the bimodal scoring method should not be used in trials.

    Goudsmit, EM., Stouten, B and Howes, S. Fatigue in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Bulletin of The IACFS/ME, 2008, 16, 3-10.
    http://www.iacfsme.org/BULLETINFALL2008/Fall08GoudsmitFatigueinMyalgicEnceph/tabid/292/Default.aspx

    Excellent article on major issues.

    Jason, LA and Richman, JA. How science can stigmatize: The case of chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2007, 14, 4, 85-103. (Published Oct. 2008).

     

    Review challenging the psychologisation of multiple chemical sensitivities.

    Goudsmit, EM and Howes, S. Is multiple chemical sensitivity a result of expectations and beliefs? A critical evaluation of provocation studies. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, iFirst. 30th September.

    http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a903527516~db=all~order=pubdate

    Findings suggesting reasons for delayed recovery:

    Vollmer-Conna, U.,  Piraino, BF., Cameron, B., Davenport, T., Hickie, I., Wakefield, D and Lloyd AR, for the Dubbo Infection Outcomes Study Group. Cytokine polymorphisms have a synergistic effect on severity of the acute sickness response to infection. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2008, 47, 1418-1425.

     

    Proposed new clinical definition for CFS.

    Osoba, T., Pheby, D., Gray, S and Nacul, L. The development of an epidemiological definition for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2007, 14, 4, 61-84. (Published 2008).

     

    Avoidance and neuroticism is not associated with the perpetuation of CFS.

    Johnson, SK., Gil-Rivas, V and Schmaling, KB. Coping strategies in chronic fatigue syndrome: outcomes over time. Stress and Health, 2008, 24, 305-312.

     

    Critical views of CBT

    Friedberg, F. Cognitive-behavioral intervention in chronic fatigue syndrome: benefits, limitations, and open questions. Bulletin of the IACFS/ME, 2008, 16, 4, 22-27.

    Price, JR., Mitchell, E., Tidy E and Hunot V. Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008, issue 3. Art. No.: CD001027.

     

    MCS: an illustration of psychologisation.

    Goudsmit, EM and Howes, S. Is multiple chemical sensitivity a result of expectations and beliefs? A critical evaluation of provocation studies. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, 2008, 17, 3, 195-211.

    http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a903527516~db=all~order=page

     

    Focusing on adaptive emotional functioning without increasing activity can help reduce prolonged fatigue.

    Schutte, NS., Malouff, JM and Brown, RF. Efficacy of an emotion-focused treatment for prolonged fatigue. Behavior Modification, 2008, 32, 5, 699-713.

     

     

    Copyright EM. Goudsmit 2008. ©
    Psychologist/Archivist, London.
    All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced without
    permission from the author. See the     full copyright notice.

     

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