Offener Brief der Psychologen in Großbritannien an den Ministerpräsidenten fordert biomedizinische Forschung zu ME/CFS

 

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Der u.a. offene Brief richtet sich an den Ministerpräsidenten Großbritanniens und lädt alle Psychologen, die derzeit den Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol)-Status bei der British Psychological Society und/oder dem Health and Care Professions Council als Praktizierender Psychologe haben, ein, um eine verstärkte biomedizinische Forschung zur myalgischen Enzephalomyelitis (ME) zu unterstützen.

https://humanisticsystems.com/me-open-letter/?fbclid=IwY2xjawVmqV5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR8bvkjlCK6NxF86K8PTjBa-0alZK0ldsEjkh3Qyr2JIql4EuJrJ4FSOOs6Oxg_aem_allhZnyhrG9A0cXefXKU2Q

The open letter

The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

Re: Psychologists supporting Beth Dobbin’s call for ME research funding

We are writing as psychologists to support Olympian Beth Dobbin’s appeal for increased research funding for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and the letter of support signed by over 500 figures from the world of sport.

As psychologists, we recognise that the causes and mechanisms of ME are not yet fully understood, and that all causal explanations must be evaluated against robust scientific evidence. However, ME has too often been psychologised, with psychological and behavioural explanations advanced beyond the available evidence. This has contributed to the misunderstanding of a serious, disabling illness and, too often, the dismissal of patients’ experiences.

Psychology has an important contribution to make in supporting people living with chronic illness, and psychological support and medical care can be complementary. However, psychological support is not a substitute for biomedical investigation, appropriate medical care or effective treatments. Nor should uncertainty about the mechanisms of ME be taken as evidence of psychological or behavioural causation.

For some of us, this issue is also personal. The psychologist initiating this letter has written about his experience of ME, including its effects on work, relationships, independence and participation in everyday life.

We welcome recent advances in biomedical research, but sustained and substantially increased investment is needed. We therefore support Beth’s request for a meeting and urge your government to provide the remaining £15 million needed for the Sequence ME and Long Covid study, alongside a properly funded, long-term programme of ME research with clear annual funding targets, informed by patients, clinicians and researchers.

People with ME deserve to be heard, believed and supported by the best science available.

Yours sincerely,