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Aus: Psychologist studies Chronic Fatigue impact

Firestormm

Senior Member
Messages
5,055
Location
Cornwall England
Nursing Careers Allied Health

Psychologist studies chronic fatigue impact

21 May 2014

Eighty-five per cent of people with the debilitating illness Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) have difficulties reading and following directions even when it comes to a new medication, according to a New Zealand study.

Dr Don Baken, a clinical psychologist at Massey University’s School of Psychology, surveyed 221 people with CFS, also known as Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME), in a bid to gain new insights into the impact of the condition which affects about 20,000 New Zealanders and around 250,000 Australians.

Dr Baken said survey respondents reported a very low quality of life with more than three quarters struggling with basic everyday tasks and meeting family responsibilities while two thirds had difficulties counting money for purchases.

“They also rated their executive functioning to be extremely low for abilities such as planning, organising, strategising, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space,” he said.

Classified as a neurological disorder by the World Health Organisation, people with CFS experience extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, cerebral symptoms of impaired memory and concentration alongside impaired cardiovascular function, gut disorder and sensory dysfunction.

Dr Baken said most respondents felt misunderstood and stigmatised by the condition.

“Because of the nature of the condition and the stigma that many feel because of it, it’s difficult for this group to advocate for themselves,” he said.

“More needs to be done to understand the impact of this condition and how society can support the people who suffer from it.”

The survey, which was conducted for Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES), comes as researchers at Queensland’s Griffith University hope to develop a quick diagnostic test, for earlier and better treatment.

Griffith Health Centre is home to the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) which is dedicated to research on the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system.

Facilities at the centre will be extended in June 2014 with the opening of a specialised CFS clinic.

The new integrated facility will provide treatment to patients and build on the research being conducted with participants, which has shown a strong association between the condition and a dysfunctional immune system.

Leading CFS researcher Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik said Griffith’s research was pioneering the way internationally.

Professor Marshall-Gradisnik said she hopes the centre will not only discover the cause of the illness but also effective treatments.

“We now have the capacity, not only for advanced research but also the potential to provide a clinical service to people who have been unable to find appropriate care in the past,” she said.

See also: 'Stigma of chronic fatigue illness adds to suffering - survey': forums.phoenixrising.me/index.php?threads/anzmes-worse-scores-than-those-with-other-neurological-conditions.30149/
 

knackers323

Senior Member
Messages
1,625
Does anyone know where I can find other study's or testimonials of the what it's like to live with, and the impact of CFS and or Lyme disease?
 

Firestormm

Senior Member
Messages
5,055
Location
Cornwall England