scholarly journals [no title]

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 691-691
Author(s):  
Annie McCloud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Anthropology ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Internet Relay Chat ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
The Face ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Set Up

Sir: Thompson's article on the internet and suicide (Psychiatric Bulletin, August 1999, 23, 449–451) is a timely and welcome addition to the slowly growing literature on the internet and health. However, she could possibly have developed further positive ways of approaching the influence of the internet. Attempting to shut down, or restrict access to internet sites dealing with suicide is likely to be difficult to enforce in practice and may inadvertently block access to sources of positive help. It is important to stress the potential benefits of support online. The vast majority of online informants of my current thesis in medical anthropology on chronic fatigue syndrome and internet use reported that it provided a lifeline in the face of prejudice and lack of sympathy for family and desertion by friends. There is a vast untapped potential for NHS trusts and bodies such as Mind, or the Royal College of Psychiatrists to set up websites, moderated newsgroups and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services to provide more therapeutic approaches to suicide and mental illness than those described by Thompson.

scholarly journals Investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of FITNET-NHS (Fatigue In Teenagers on the interNET in the NHS) compared to activity management to treat paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME): amendment to the published protocol

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Anderson ◽  
Daisy Gaunt ◽  
Chris Metcalfe ◽  
Manmita Rai ◽  
William Hollingworth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Trial Protocol ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Therapy Program ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Activity Management

Abstract The FITNET-NHS Trial is a UK, national, trial investigating whether an online cognitive behavioural therapy program (FITNET-NHS) for treating chronic fatigue syndrome/ME in adolescents is clinically effective and cost-effective in the NHS. At the time of writing (September 2019), the trial was recruiting participants. This article presents an update to the planned sample size and data collection duration previously published within the trial protocol. Trial registration ISRCTN, ID: 18020851. Registered 8 April 2016.

The Face(book) of Unionism

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Gibney ◽  
Tom Zagenczyk ◽  
Marick F. Masters
Keyword(s):  
Communication Technology ◽  
Population Survey ◽  
Labor Union ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Internet Presence ◽  
The Face ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Facebook Pages

Information Communication Technology (ICT) offers unions a greater capacity to build cohesion and expand membership. An important issue in assessing the potential benefits of ICT is the nature and scope of union members’ use of this technology. Unions must have an Internet presence. Using data from a 2010 Current Population Survey (CPS), the authors examine the extent to which union members have and use computers and the Internet. In addition, the authors review Facebook pages and Twitter accounts established by or for national labor organizations. The authors find that labor union usage of these social networks has not produced anticipated usage by members.

Management advice for children with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic study of information from the internet

1999 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Wright ◽  
Christine Williams ◽  
Ian Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Research Knowledge ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Inaccurate Information ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Management Advice

AbstractObjectives:Parents often present practising clinicians who see children with chronic fatigue syndrome with printouts from the internet. These are then brought into the discussion about the management and aetiology of this debilitating condition. We set out to systematically study the information on the internet on this subject and to explore the diversity of advice in relation to current research knowledge.Method:Systematic search by means of the internet browser Netscape Navigator and search engines AltaVista and Yahoo! Advice about levels of rest, exercise, medication, psychological interventions and suggestions about return to school is critically compared with current research evidence.Results:Thirteen websites were accessed. All have some treatment advice. Six offer conflicting advice about levels of rest, with two suggesting large amounts of rest, two suggesting some rest and two suggesting graded exercise. Nine suggest medications (with a wide variety of pharmacological activities) despite the lack of research evidence showing a significant contribution from medication. Four suggest psychological treatments but some advise that it is unnecessary despite the established evidence in chronic fatigue (and other chronic illnesses) that appropriate psychological treatments are helpful. There are a wide variety of differing diets recommended.Conclusions:Few websites provide useful management advice. Advice offered is often in conflict. Some of the advice is either contrary to current research evidence or not supported by it. This raises concerns about inaccurate information reaching families who have a child with chronic fatigue syndrome, with potentially damaging consequences. This suggests a need for a debate about the availability and validation of health related information on the internet.

Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Internet: A Systematic Survey of what Your Patients are Reading

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Kisely
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Potential Conflict ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Pro Forma

Objective: To evaluate the type, quality, and focus of patient information on the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome on the Internet using simple search techniques. Design: The search phrase ‘chronic fatigue syndrome’ was entered into nine common Internet search engines. The 25 most highly ranked pages identified by each of the nine search engines were analysed using a standardized pro forma. The following outcome measures were used: balance of content, consistency of content with evidence-based practice, declared authorship with credentials, information sources including the presence of references, the declaration of any potential conflict of interest, and the need to clarify information with an appropriate health professional. Results: Two hundred and twenty-five websites were reviewed during a 2-week period in September 2000. A further 15 sites (6.3%) were inaccessible. Agreement between websites and systematic reviews of treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome ranged from 4 to 68%, the greatest agreement being for recommendations for graded exercise and the avoidance of prolonged rest. Most sites (64%) had a named author. Only a quarter to a third contained a declaration of interest, advised readers to clarify information with an appropriate health professional, or avoided inaccurate statements. Conclusions: The Internet contains a great deal of information on chronic fatigue syndrome that is neither balanced nor consistent with evidence-based practice. Doctors individually, and as a profession, should provide guidance on which Internet sites to trust.

scholarly journals Physical or mental? A perspective on chronic fatigue syndrome

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 351-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Sykes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome

This paper examines the question of whether chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), often known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), should be classified as a physical or mental illness.

scholarly journals Using the internet to cope with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis in adolescence: a qualitative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e000299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amberly Brigden ◽  
Julie Barnett ◽  
Roxanne Morin Parslow ◽  
Lucy Beasant ◽  
Esther Crawley
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome

scholarly journals Evaluation of Immune Dysregulation in an Austrian Patient Cohort Suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Lena Lutz ◽  
Johanna Rohrhofer ◽  
Sonja Zehetmayer ◽  
Michael Stingl ◽  
Eva Untersmayr
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Disease Biomarkers ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Immune Parameters ◽  
Retrospective Data Analysis

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a severe multi-systemic disease characterized by debilitating fatigue that is not relieved by rest. The causes of the disease are still largely unexplained, and no causative treatment is currently available. Changes in the immune response are considered as fundamental in the development of ME/CFS. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the immunological profile of ME/CFS patients in a retrospective data analysis. As part of the routine workup for ME/CFS patients, a differential blood count, leukocyte subtyping, and quantification of immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses, as well as a complement analysis, was performed. Out of 262 ME/CFS patients, 64.9% had a reduction or deficiency in at least one of the listed immune parameters. In contrast, 26.3% showed signs of immune activation or inflammation. A total of 17.6% of the ME/CFS patients had an unclassified antibody deficiency, with IgG3 and IgG4 subclass deficiencies as the most common phenotypes. Reduced MBL (mannose-binding lectin) levels were found in 32% of ME/CFS patients, and MBL deficiency in 7%. In summary, the present results confirmed the relevance of immune dysfunction in ME/CFS patients underlining the involvement of a dysfunctional immune response in the disease. Thus, immune parameters are relevant disease biomarkers, which might lead to targeted therapeutic approaches in the future.

scholarly journals Management of chronic fatigue syndrome in children

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Wright ◽  
Ian Partridge ◽  
Christine Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
Based Medicine

Certain areas of child and adolescent mental health generate a degree of polarised debate, both within and outside the profession. Media attention, the development of self-help groups and the Internet lead to the publishing of papers and opinion, which exist alongside peer-reviewed research and evidence-based medicine. Parents reading such material may find it hard to know what advice is best. One area that falls into this category is chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

scholarly journals ME/CFS: Past, Present and Future

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 984
Author(s):  
William Weir ◽  
Nigel Speight
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
The Face

This review raises a number of compelling issues related to the condition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Some historical perspective is necessary in order to highlight the nature of the controversy concerning its causation. Throughout history, a pattern tends to repeat itself when natural phenomena require explanation. Dogma usually arrives first, then it is eventually replaced by scientific understanding. The same pattern is unfolding in relation to ME/CFS, but supporters of the psychological dogma surrounding its causation remain stubbornly resistant, even in the face of compelling scientific evidence to the contrary. Acceptance of the latter is not just an academic issue; the route to proper understanding and treatment of ME/CFS is through further scientific research rather than psychological theorisation. Only then will a long-suffering patient group benefit.

scholarly journals Recruiting Adolescents With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis to Internet-Delivered Therapy: Internal Pilot Within a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Anderson ◽  
Roxanne Parslow ◽  
William Hollingworth ◽  
Nicola Mills ◽  
Lucy Beasant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Young People ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Specialist Treatment

BACKGROUND Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in adolescents is common and disabling. Teenagers in the United Kingdom are more likely to recover if they access specialist care, but most do not have access to a local specialist CFS/ME service. Delivering treatment remotely via the internet could improve access to treatment. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess (1) the feasibility of recruitment and retention into a trial of internet-delivered specialist treatment for adolescents with CFS/ME and (2) the acceptability of trial processes and 2 web-based treatments (to inform continuation to full trial). METHODS This study is an internal pilot for the initial 12 months of a full randomized controlled trial (RCT), with integrated qualitative methods (analysis of recruitment consultations and participant and clinician interviews). Recruitment and treatment were delivered remotely from a specialist pediatric CFS/ME treatment service within a hospital in South West United Kingdom. Adolescents (aged 11-17 years) from across the United Kingdom with a diagnosis of CFS/ME and no access to local specialist treatment were referred by their general practitioner to the treatment center. Eligibility assessment and recruitment were conducted via remote methods (telephone and on the web), and participants were randomized (via a computer-automated system) to 1 of 2 web-based treatments. The trial intervention was Fatigue in Teenagers on the InterNET in the National Health Service, a web-based modular CFS/ME-specific cognitive behavioral therapy program (designed to be used by young people and their parents or caregivers) supported by individualized clinical psychologist electronic consultations (regular, scheduled therapeutic message exchanges between participants and therapist within the platform). The comparator was Skype-delivered activity management with a CFS/ME clinician (mainly a physiotherapist or occupational therapist). Both treatments were intended to last for up to 6 months. The primary outcomes were (1) the number of participants recruited (per out-of-area referrals received between November 1, 2016, to October 31, 2017) and the proportion providing 6-month outcome data (web-based self-report questionnaire assessing functioning) and (2) the qualitative outcomes indicating the acceptability of trial processes and treatments. RESULTS A total of 89 out of 150 (59.3% of potentially eligible referrals) young people and their parents or caregivers were recruited, with 75 out of 89 (84.2%) providing 6-month outcome data. Overall, web-based treatment was acceptable; however, participants and clinicians described both the advantages and disadvantages of remote methods. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS Recruiting young people (and their parents or caregivers) into an RCT of web-based treatment via remote methods is feasible and acceptable. Delivering specialist treatment at home via the internet is feasible and acceptable, although some families prefer to travel across the United Kingdom for face-to-face treatment. CLINICALTRIAL ISRCTN 18020851; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN18020851 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1186/s13063-018-2500-3

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