Trudy Chalder maligns CFS patients in new study on emotional theory

[WillowJ]

Oldershaw A, Hambrook D, Rimes KA, Tchanturia K, Treasure J, Richards S, Schmidt U, Chalder T. "Emotion recognition and emotional theory of mind in chronic fatigue syndrome." Psychol Health. 2011 Jan 1:1-17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21598185

Section of Eating Disorders, Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.

Abstract

Background: Difficulties with social function have been reported in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but underpinning factors are unknown. Emotion recognition, theory of mind (inference of another's mental state) and 'emotional' theory of mind (eToM) (inference of another's emotional state) are important social abilities, facilitating understanding of others.

This study examined emotion recognition and eToM in CFS patients and their relationship to self-reported social function. Methods: CFS patients (n = 45) and healthy controls (HCs; n = 50) completed tasks assessing emotion recognition, basic or advanced eToM (for self and other) and a self-report measure of social function.

Results: CFS participants were poorer than HCs at recognising emotion states in the faces of others and at inferring their own emotions. Lower scores on these tasks were associated with poorer self-reported daily and social function. CFS patients demonstrated good eToM and performance on these tasks did not relate to the level of social function.

Conclusions: CFS patients do not have poor eToM, nor does eToM appear to be associated with social functioning in CFS. However, this group of patients experience difficulties in emotion recognition and inferring emotions in themselves and this may impact upon social function.

 

[Enid]

She really is a "side show" now. There's a comic Ad in the UK for those needing new glasses when mistaking one thing for another with humerous results - "should have gone to Spec Savers".

 

[currer]

Dont worry any longer about this sort of study !!!!

 

[WillowJ]

you both think so? that's good, thanks...

 

[Snow Leopard]

By the way, for such effects to be independent of symptoms, the healthy controls should be required to exercise to excess before participating in the tasks. (I recommend getting them to run a marathon first)

These studies tend to have selection/participation biases...

 

[WillowJ]

lol, and true

but it would be easier just to use patients with RA, MS, diabetic encepalopathy, heart failure, Lupus, and the like (to really compare, the controls would have to be pretty much untreated as well as stigmatized, maligned, or generally despised [and unfairly so] by at least half their contacts: medical, professional, and family)

 

[Bob]

hmm... this study really gets to the fundamental root causes of ME, doesn't it?!?

Excellent use of research funding

 

[currer]

Honestly folks, no need to upset yourselves.

 

[justinreilly]

She really is a "side show" now. There's a comic Ad in the UK for those needing new glasses when mistaking one thing for another with humerous results - "should have gone to Spec Savers".

We have this in the US too. Trudy Chalder lets in the rabid raccoon thinking it's his cat! (Trudy is a 'he' right, despite the girly name?)

 

[ukxmrv]

She is a bit of a minger but not a "he" (well, as far as a know)

Trudy can be seen in action here. So you decide for yourself (00:26)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goz_tTaWmfE

 

[liquid sky]

Really?????

 

[currer]

She'd better head on down to jobseekers! The gravy train is about to dry up.

 

[Enid]

Lets hope she does ! She and her kind responsible for entrenching mumbo jumbo in the UK with their wild beliefs - somatisation - "gods of the gaps" (ie don't really know or understand). Personally could not relate to anything in their "brave new world".