Research Commentaries

Doctors with M.E. occasionally produces research commentaries regarding progress in the field of research. Where necessary, we also critique developments that particularly undermine research or clinical progress.

We also produce educational resources, policy positions and research, which can be viewed on those pages.

  • ME/CFS Clinical Tool – Measuring Family Quality of Life Impact
    Striking evidence for how to improve standards of holistic care and service provision The FROM-16 validated quality of life tool is a pragmatic addition to the frontline clinical toolbox, allowing for holistic decision making to be made regarding care and broader service provision. Doctors with M.E. Director Dr. Nina Muirhead presents new findings with her…
  • Poor knowledge of ME/CFS among doctors puts patients at risk of harm
    An Audit of UK Hospital Doctors’ Knowledge and Experience of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Doctors with M.E. Founder and Director Dr. KN Hng, Director Dr. Keith Geraghty and Honorary Fellow Prof. Derek Pheby report their findings regarding ME/CFS knowledge and understanding amongst the medical community following an audit of hospital doctors at a training event in the…
  • A Review of ME/CFS: Past, Present and Future
    Science’s rejection of psychological dogma Doctors with M.E. Honorary Fellows Dr. William Weir and Dr. Nigel Speight co-author a newly published opinion piece that discusses the past, present and possible future of ME/CFS. In order to give context as to how ME/CFS came to be incorrectly viewed as a psychological disorder, the article draws on…
  • ME/CFS: Essentials of Diagnosis and Management – US Consensus Recommendations
    This comprehensive article, co-authored by Doctors With M.E. Honorary Fellows, Dr. Lucinda Bateman and Professor Anthony Komaroff, summarises best clinical practice recommendations for generalist and specialist health care providers treating adults affected by ME/CFS. The article covers epidemiology, prognosis, etiology and pathophysiology, diagnostic approach with new diagnostic criteria, and management of ME/CFS. The clinicians behind…
  • Rethinking Care for ME/CFS Patients
    Rethinking the Standard of Care for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome This recent report by Friedberg et al. critically examines research claiming that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) are effective and safe treatments for ME/CFS. Analysis reveals unsubstantiated claims of recovery in non-blinded trials, which relied on subjective outcome measures, overly broad…
  • Monitoring Treatment Harm in the NHS
    Monitoring treatment harm in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A freedom-of-information study of National Health Service specialist centres in England Doctors with M.E. Honorary Fellows, Professor Brian Hughes and Tom Kindlon co-author important research investigating the reporting of treatment-related harm in ME/CFS following the use of graded exercise therapy (GET) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy…
  • Genetic Risk Factors – A Review
    Genetic risk factors of ME/CFS: a critical review Doctors with M.E. Honorary Fellow, Professor Chris Ponting co-authors a review that highlights the need for large genome-wide association studies, such as the much anticipated DecodeME project. Such studies are required to identify possible genetic risk factors in ME/CFS, as this could improve our understanding and drive…
  • Predictors for Severe ME/CFS
    Predictors for Developing Severe ME/CFS Following Mononucleosis New research, co-authored by Doctors with M.E. honorary fellow Professor Leonard Jason, attempts to identify why some patients develop severe ME/CFS following Infectious Mononucleosis (IM, Epstein Barr or Glandular Fever) by seeking out possible predisposing risk-factors. Additional gastrointestinal symptoms and abnormal immune markers prior to IM infection appear…
  • Dysregulation of Energy Metabolism
    Dysregulation of the Kennedy Pathway and Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Doctors with M.E. Honorary Fellows, Dr. Lucinda Bateman, Professor Anthony Komaroff and Professor Ian Lipkin continue investigations into ME with co-authorship of newly published research that gives further support to findings of altered metabolomic profiles in ME/CFS patients. The…
  • Stigma and causal attribution – new research
    Causal attributions and perceived stigma for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Doctors with M.E. Honorary Fellow, Professor Leonard Jason, continues his scholarship in the field of ME with his coauthorship of a newly published paper examining the role of stigma and its impact on health-related and social outcomes. In addition to ME’s extremely low…