Good article, Google translate is hilarious:
The mistakes of a scientific study on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The case of the clinical trial PACE on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome shows that even a scientific study with a large sample may be poor and exaggerated results. The authors of the study had exaggerated their interpretation and it has deceived thousands of people suffering from this syndrome.
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Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects approximately 2.6% of the world population. Despite the fact that millions of people touch, the disease is still relatively unknown and a very dubious scientific study deceived patients for years. Note that
chronic fatigue is recognized as a disorder, but for years it was only recognized by psychiatry. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with
chronic fatigue syndrome , then your doctor will prescribe two treatments, the progressive realization or monitoring of therapy.
In 2011,
a clinical trial called PACE was published in The Lancet . This study was conducted by researchers from the
Queen Mary University of London .This clinical trial observed 641 patients for 52 weeks and therefore, the sample size was very important. The researchers reported that patients affected by
chronic fatigue , had a 60% chance of having improvements and a 20% chance of being cured. 60% chance of improvement and almost 20% chance of healing? These are good results in appearance.
The problem is that patients were not convinced by the treatments and they questioned the results of the study. Patients report that their symptoms worsened considerably if they were exercising even at moderate levels. And in the case of therapy, it was not just any, but the
cognitive behavioral therapythat is often criticized. In the case of patients with chronic fatigue, the therapist will suggest that there is no physiological cause behind this syndrome and that
everything goes in their head . In this context, the therapist will simply ask that patients ignore their symptoms and continue to exercise.
The problem is that in 2015, a panel of doctors classified
chronic fatigue syndrome as a biological disease . And in 2016, researchers reported that
the disorders in the intestinal microbiome may be associated with chronic fatigue . But despite increasing evidence that
chronic fatigue is a real disease, there is still almost no treatment other than those recommended by psychiatry.
Therefore, the clinical trial patients
PACE asked what scientists of the
Queen Mary University of London published their raw data of the studies. The university has repeatedly denied and it took
a court order to force the authors to do .Patients were amazed that the results of a study with a large sample contradict their own experience of treatment. Then,
independent scientists analyzed the raw data . The results?
The chances of improving through the year, were barely 10% while the chances of recovery increased from 20 to 7% for therapy and 5% for the year . Very, very far from the 60% and 20% announced by the authors.
Independent researchers estimate that the 2011 study is really poor. In the sample size, the authors also incorporated people who did not have chronic fatigue syndrome which results rotten. In addition, the clinical trial was not double blind causing huge confirmation bias. Obviously, this independent analysis should be evaluated in turn, but the researchers said they were open to criticism. But they challenge the authors of the original study to explain such a difference in the numbers.
If the analysis is confirmed, then it will have the dubious scientific study be retracted. But the withdrawal is a drastic punishment for perpetrators and the university. And even if that happens, the damage is already done. Exercise and therapy entered the practitioners manners and it will take years for mentalities to change. Today, the
chronic fatigue syndrome is considered a fun way by the media treated the news. As if it were a shameful disease.
