home

button - bottom

 


ME/CFS
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 

divider - thermometer

List of pages


Search for any word on this web site

Enter your
words in the
box below


 

Use SEARCH to find the word you're looking for. The results will be presented in a list containing the first instance of your word. Click on any of the listed pages to view. Having viewed your word, then use your browsers FIND facility to check for any more occurrences of your word on that page.

 

divider - thermometer

 

Comments concerning Dr. Ellen Goudsmit, Dr. Fred Friedberg, the cause of CFS and bad science.

I have recently become aware that some have interpreted my articles as evidence of Cartesian dualism, i.e. the notion that the cause of illness is either in the body or the mind. I am also aware that some believe that I am aligned with the school of thought which perceives CFS as having a single (biomedical) cause and that I am so fixed in that view that I would ignore and deny future evidence to the contrary. Dr. Fred Friedberg put it as follows: She (i.e. EG) is “so beholden to a rigid mind-body dualism - so much so that I suspect that she would never support a role for psychological factors in CFS, no matter what the evidence" (1).

As the BPS Code of Conduct requires its members to correct misrepresentation, I hereby note that I do not hold the views above. Those who have read my posts will undoubtedly know that I regard CFS as an umbrella term which covers a mixed population. In line with the CDC and respected scientists such as Prof. Jason, I suspect that the current definition selects different subsets of patients and that these subsets may well have different causes. Indeed, I have already stated that there is evidence that the definition of CFS also covers a group whose fatigue is the result of chronic stress, hence the low cortisol levels documented in some research. My articles not only recognise the complexity of CFS but I have often discussed the role of psychological factors as contributing to the experience of disability. Both the acknowledgement of psychological factors in the aetiology of subsets and the articles noting the damaging effects of uncertainty, anxiety, depression etc, are inconsistent with Cartesian dualism.

What particularly baffles me about the claims is that I have written very little about the aetiology of CFS. This is because as a psychologist, I am not able to interpret genetic and immunological findings and am therefore unsure about their significance. Any comments about a likely biomedical aetiology in my articles represent the views of the relevant physicians, and I usually cite the source. The fact that I don’t have a personal view about the aetiology of CFS, but like others, discuss findings and speculate about subsets, is again inconsistent with the suggestion that I am convinced that CFS has a biomedical cause. Even in relation to post viral syndromes, I simply do not know what leads some to recover and some to remain ill (cf. Hickie et al, BMJ). Furthermore, I don’t know anyone who does.

Although I have written at length about the flaws in the CBT model and have questioned specific psychological explanations e.g. which attribute CFS almost entirely to maladaptive beliefs and behaviours, this does not mean that I totally reject a role for all psychological factors. It means that I am not persuaded by the CBT model. As noted above, I don’t know the cause of CFS and do not claim to know. I simply have not seen good quality evidence to implicate factors such as hysteria, misattribution and suggestibility. If this came to light, then I would follow normal procedure in science and acknowledge the research.

Perhaps those individuals who perceive me as promoting a specific theory have confused me with someone else?

It saddens me greatly that I am being portrayed as a follower of Cartesian dualism, a concept I consider to be overly simplistic and inconsistent with good science. Equally, I am deeply disappointed that any reader of my articles would conclude that I am so fixated on a biomedical aetiology, that I would drop my principles (I have long promoted the need for balance and fought the denial of evidence), and simply ignore sound evidence implicating psychological factors in the aetiology of CFS. I realise that a scientist may express a less than objective opinion of evidence as a result of consultancies with drug companies, a position of influence in a political party, or the need to sell a book, but in my experience, there is no money to be made, or political influence associated with, the opposition to the CBT model. Even if there was a potential for personal or financial gain associated with the promotion of a biomedical aetiology, I would not discard my scientific training and breach two professional Codes of Conduct.

 

1. People wishing to know the source of the comments may contact me offlist. To name it here would provide free publicity for a publication which is not the aim of this post.

 

divider - thermometer

 

 What is this diagnosis?

ME/CFS

 

divider - thermometer

May 12th

Countdown to May the 12th
Only year, months, and days left until
ME/CFS/CFIDS International Awareness Day

Don't forget to mark your calendar too!

divider - thermometer

 

Digit - pointing

button - microscope

Need the latest relevant ME/CFS information?

Articles about news and views on the latest information on ME/CFS.

Includes the very latest Medical Update, Capita Selecta, Medical Fact sheet, Book Reviews and other relevant medical information.
 

button - microscope

PACING TO MANAGE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

 

divider - thermometer

 

This database is the only one we know of which evaluates the research and points out the evidence against the much hyped CBT/graded exercise model. Incidentally, one of the editors of the Medical Update was on the UK working party on CFS.
The Lottery Charities Board have refused to fund us (we have it on good authority that these bodies tend not to give grants for projects which appear to challenge the CBT explanation of CFS.)

 

divider - thermometer

 

 

Do you feel like you're forever going uphill
and going round in circles and getting nowhere?

Don't despair - help is at hand

 

  button - microscope

Where can I get help?

Details of Support Organisations and Groups which are willing and able to assist those of us who are suffering from ME/CFS.

Links to other sites that have important information about ME/CFS.

button - microscope

ME/CFS

Basic introduction to CFS/ME (layman's version)
by Dr E M Goudsmit. PhD. C. Psychol.

For a shorter description read the award winning:
"
Pride or Prejudice"
[Action Against Allergy (AAA) 1998 Runner-up Award Winner]

button - microscope

ME/CFS

Basic introduction to CFS/ME (medical professional's version)
by Dr E M Goudsmit. PhD. C. Psychol.

For a shorter description read the award winning:
"
Pride or Prejudice"
[Action Against Allergy (AAA) 1998 Runner-up Award Winner]

button - microscope

For full disclosure of our aims and independence

button - microscope

For further information about
Dr E M Goudsmit.
PhD. C. Psychol.

 

divider - thermometer

 

Canada Leads the Way With a Medical Milestone:
(Press Release - Feb 2003)

A Clinical Definition for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) 

 

divider - thermometer

 


ME-NET SEARCH ENGINE


The GREEN SEARCH ENGINE
allows the user to find a specific ME/CFS/FM paper

The BLUE SEARCH ENGINE
searches within the papers itself.

 

divider - thermometer

 

guest book sign

be my guest

guest book view

By signing my guest book you can leave details of your website so that others may come and visit you

View my guest book and see who has visited.

  divider - thermometer

 

The ME/CFS area of "Axford's Abode" is proud to accept the following awards

Note: This doesn't mean that "Axford's Abode" endorses any services or products that may be given/sold by the presenters of these awards. We receive these awards in good faith and remain totally independent and receive no money or gifts.

MHN 2-Stars!
15th September 1998
Links2Go Key Resource Award
6th May 1999

Open Directory Cool Site
9th August 1999


24th
h December 1999


10th December 2000

Phentemine

3rd March 2003

 
3rd July 2006
 

 

divider - thermometer

 

ME/CFS BANNERS

ME/CFS Links

Links to other ME/CFS web-sites

 

divider - thermometer

 

Co-Cure Ring
This The Co-Cure Ring site is owned by
david.axford@virgin.net

| Previous 5 Sites | Skip Previous| Previous | Next |
|
Skip Next | Next 5 Sites | Random Site | List Sites |

Want to join the ring? Click here for more information.

Co-Cure next

 

divider - thermometer

 

 

 

divider - thermometer

 

button - top