Subjective Concepts of Chronically Ill Patients Using Distant Healing

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Güthlin ◽  
Andreas Anton ◽  
Jan Kruse ◽  
Harald Walach
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity ◽  
Distant Healing ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Chronically Ill Patients

Distant healing procedures consist of benevolent intentions, often taking the form of prayers for a patient. Despite inconclusive evidence regarding distant healing, prayers are a widespread health-related technique. We studied subjective concepts of distant healing in 17 patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity who were given distant healing during a randomized controlled trial. We applied reconstructive interview analysis when analyzing the results. The overall theme was the tension between mainstream medicine and the immaterial healing procedure. Several components highlighted this tension: (a) patterns of legitimizing the use of distant healing, (b) distant healing and the social setting, (c) integrating distant healing into their belief system, and (d) reconstruction of effects by means of hindsight. The interviews showed that patients felt the need to legitimize having tried distant healing. They had to bear the full ambiguity of biomedicine being in competition with distant healing, though also experiencing distant healing as giving support.

Patterns of Utilization of Medical Care and Perceptions of the Relationship between Doctor and Patient with Chronic Illness Including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

1997 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 643-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart W. Twemlow ◽  
Lolafaye Coyne ◽  
Samuel L. Bradshaw ◽  
Barbara H. Lerma
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Medical Patients ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Patterns Of Utilization ◽  
Chronically Ill Patients ◽  
The Relationship

To what extent do personal constructs affect the relationship between doctor and patient when the ill patient does not readily recover with treatment? Questionnaires were returned anonymously by 609 patients with a self-reported diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, who were considered chronically ill. Findings were compared with those of an earlier study of a population of 397 general medical patients. The chronically ill patients lost an average of 65 days of work per year due to illness compared to general medical patients who missed six or fewer days per year because they were ill. The chronically ill patients also reported a 66% higher frequency of iatrogenic illness, spent more money on health care, took more medication, saw more specialists, and were more litigious than the general medical population. Research suggested several patterns of relationships between doctors and patients, and attitudes to health and illness, which may alert doctors to patients' perceptions, beliefs, encoded constructs, and patterns of relating that affect responses to treatment. More attention by doctors to patients who are experiencing the stress of chronic illness is indicated.

scholarly journals Effect of Dietary Coenzyme Q10 Plus NADH Supplementation on Fatigue Perception and Health-Related Quality of Life in Individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2658
Author(s):  
Jesús Castro-Marrero ◽  
Maria Jose Segundo ◽  
Marcos Lacasa ◽  
Alba Martinez-Martinez ◽  
Ramon Sanmartin Sentañes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Experimental Group

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multisystem, and profoundly debilitating neuroimmune disease, probably of post-viral multifactorial etiology. Unfortunately, no accurate diagnostic or laboratory tests have been established, nor are any universally effective approved drugs currently available for its treatment. This study aimed to examine whether oral coenzyme Q10 and NADH (reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) co-supplementation could improve perceived fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and health-related quality of life in ME/CFS patients. A 12-week prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 207 patients with ME/CFS, who were randomly allocated to one of two groups to receive either 200 mg of CoQ10 and 20 mg of NADH (n = 104) or matching placebo (n = 103) once daily. Endpoints were simultaneously evaluated at baseline, and then reassessed at 4- and 8-week treatment visits and four weeks after treatment cessation, using validated patient-reported outcome measures. A significant reduction in cognitive fatigue perception and overall FIS-40 score (p < 0.001 and p = 0.022, respectively) and an improvement in HRQoL (health-related quality of life (SF-36)) (p < 0.05) from baseline were observed within the experimental group over time. Statistically significant differences were also shown for sleep duration at 4 weeks and habitual sleep efficiency at 8 weeks in follow-up visits from baseline within the experimental group (p = 0.018 and p = 0.038, respectively). Overall, these findings support the use of CoQ10 plus NADH supplementation as a potentially safe therapeutic option for reducing perceived cognitive fatigue and improving the health-related quality of life in ME/CFS patients. Future interventions are needed to corroborate these clinical benefits and also explore the underlying pathomechanisms of CoQ10 and NADH administration in ME/CFS.

Immunologic and psychologic therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

1993 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Lloyd ◽  
Ian Hickie ◽  
Alan Brockman ◽  
Catherine Hickie ◽  
Andrew Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Double Blind Placebo ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome

Pain is associated with reduced quality of life and functional status in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elin Bolle Strand ◽  
Anne Marit Mengshoel ◽  
Leiv Sandvik ◽  
Ingrid B. Helland ◽  
Semhar Abraham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Group ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Health Related Qol ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Functioning Level

Abstract Background and aims Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is challenging to live with, often accompanied by pervasive fatigue and pain, accompanied by decreased quality of life (QoL) as well as anxiety and/or depression. Associations between higher pain, lower QoL and higher anxiety and depression have been shown in patients with various chronic pain disorders. Few studies have however examined such associations in a sample of patients with ME/CFS. The aims of the current study were to examine the impact of pain levels and compare levels of pain, health related QoL, anxiety and depression between patients with ME/CFS and healthy controls. In addition, the study aimed and to examine these relationships within the patient group only. Methods This is a cross-sectional questionnaire based study comparing 87 well-diagnosed patients with ME/CFS with 94 healthy controls. The De Paul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ), the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Surveys (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to examine and compare pain, physical function, QoL, anxiety and depression in patients and healthy controls. Further the pain variables were divided into pain total, pain intensity and a pain frequency score for analyses of the above mentioned variables within the patient group only. Results Significantly higher levels of pain, anxiety and depression, and lower levels of QoL were found in the patient group compared with healthy controls. For the patient group alone, pain was significantly associated with lower QoL in terms of physical functioning, bodily pain, general health functioning, vitality and social functioning capacity. In this patient sample, only frequency of joint pain showed significant difference in psychological variables such as depression and anxiety – depression combined. Conclusions ME/CFS patients differ significantly from healthy controls in pain, health related QoL, anxiety and depression. Pain is significantly associated with reduced QoL and overall a lower level of functioning. The relation between pain and anxiety and depression appears less clear. Implications Pain is for many ME/CFS patients associated with reduced physical functioning and reduced QoL. A thorough pain assessment can therefore be essential for clinicians, and subsequent medical pain treatment combined with good pain coping skills may increase functioning level and QoL for these patients. The link between joint pain and psychological factors should also be focused in clinical practice in terms of mapping and counseling. Pain should be further examined to understand the importance it may have for functioning level as reduced function is a main criteria when diagnosing the patients.

A controlled trial of intravenous immunoglobulin G in chronic fatigue syndrome

1990 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 554-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip K. Peterson ◽  
Judy Shepard ◽  
Mark Macres ◽  
Carlos Schenck ◽  
John Crosson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Intravenous Immunoglobulin ◽  
Immunoglobulin G ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Intravenous Immunoglobulin G

scholarly journals A preliminary investigation of nutritional intake and supplement use in Australians with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the implications on health-related quality of life

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Breanna Weigel ◽  
Natalie Eaton-Fitch ◽  
Rachel Passmore ◽  
Hélène Cabanas ◽  
Donald Staines ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Data ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Nutritional Intake ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Australian Population ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, multisystem illness without a currently recognized pharmacological treatment. Dietary supplementation and modification have been posited as potential management strategies; however, their efficacy is controversial. Objective: This study aimed to assess the nutritional intake and supplement use of Australian ME/CFS patients and the perceived effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for the first time in an Australian patient population. Design: Between February 2019 and January 2020, ME/CFS patients across Australia volunteered in this cross-sectional study in response to online advertisements. Eligible respondents were invited to complete three online self-administered questionnaires investigating their supplement use, nutritional intake, and HRQoL. The study participants’ supplement use and nutritional intake were summarized and compared with the population data returned from the Australian Health Survey (2011–2012). Multiple linear regression analysis was also performed to determine the effect of participants’ supplement use and nutrient intake on HRQoL. Results: Twenty-four eligible ME/CFS patients (54.2% meeting the International Consensus Criteria, 79.2% female, mean age = 43.4 ± 10.5 years) completed the online questionnaires. Supplement use was highly prevalent among the study sample (87.5%) and considerably more common when compared with population data (31.9%). Daily total fats and caffeine intakes were significantly higher among ME/CFS patients when compared with the Australian population (P = 0.009 and P = 0.033, respectively), whereas daily intakes of total carbohydrates and alcohol were significantly lower (both P < 0.001). No consistent trends between nutrition and supplement use with patients’ HRQoL could be identified. Conclusions: The daily diet and supplement use of ME/CFS patients appear to vary considerably from those of the general Australian population. Although the role of nutritional intake and supplement use on ME/CFS patients’ HRQoL remains unclear, dietary changes and the use of supplements appear to be of value to ME/CFS patients.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Moclobemide in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2000 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 643-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian B. Hickie ◽  
Andrew J. Wilson ◽  
J. Murray Wright ◽  
Barbara K. Bennett ◽  
Denis Wakefield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Double Blind Placebo ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome
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