A couple-based psychological intervention for chronic fatigue syndrome [In progress, April 2018]

Link to trial details here

 

This just sounds so ominous.

The message:

"You are so dysfunctional, you can't be trusted to do what's best for you (and of course, we do know what's best for you). We will whisper in the ears of your nearest and dearest, so they can make sure you do exactly as you're told".

 

I think that partners will be declared dysfunctional and illness belief reinforcing once this approach fails to work. The reason patients don't engage with CBT is because it's the wrong treatment and partners will likely start viewing it that way too. Unfortunately it could also harm the relationship.

I can already picture the researchers announcing how they've made the astonishing discovery that partners are part of the illness perpetuation process.

 

Oeh, couples therapy as to double the chance of it sticking. Now to find a partner. Any takers?

 

Same.

 

I'm tempted to enrol just so my partner can call them all quacks while I make duck noises. Actually, knowing him, he'd be the one who'd prefer to make the silly noises while I rant and rage.

 

This idea sounds incredibly lame and not-thought-out (as is usual with this sort of thing). I haven't heard of Dr Marion Cuddy, their primary contact. Does she have any experience/previous track record with ME/CFS?

Yes, this! Almost tempting (but not enough), LOL.

 

"What duck?"

 

Or, "why a duck?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3hjo7V7TPs

 

I'm going to assume that she's a different one to "Marion Cuddy Knitwear"

Looking at the research tab here, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marion_Cuddy, up to 1997 she was involved in biomedical research of various types, between then and 2001, she switches to psych research, but short answer, no, she has no track record of ME/CFS research.

 

Any relation to Amy?

 

Cardigans?

 

Can't we add another to that list? The psychs belief in the power of CBT when applied to an ME/CFS patient?

I decided not to go there.

 

TBH, the knitwear lady would probably do just as well (especially if she wears one of her own blue cardigans while carrying out the therapy). In your link, it shows that Dr Cuddy is at Kings College London. It appears that despite PACE's failure at providing any objective evidence of CBT as curative for CFS, that lot are determined to carry on regardless...

 

Oh dear, when will this nonsense be at an end...so disappointing.

 

The ignorance and bigotry of this approach is so blatant if you reread it while substituting the word "cancer" for "CFS".