Bristol cable article, by Jenny Horner, 24 January 2017: Children with ME need relevant science, not pressure to do more, more, more”
An advocate and campaigner living with ME explains why she opposes Bristol University’s trials on children with the condition.
In November, Bristol University made national headlines for a £1m trial attempting to treat child ME sufferers using a specific form of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) over the internet. In chronic conditions, talking therapies can be useful support for the uncertainty and loss caused by illness.
However, CBT is being used differently in ME with a strong agenda to increase activity, without treating the underlying disease. Bristol is also trialling a controversial ‘graded exercise therapy’ (MAGENTA). As an ME sufferer myself, I am deeply troubled to see the continued use of approaches to treat ME that can harm sick children instead of helping them…
Adults with ME feel that our views on these issues are usually ignored or caricatured. Children with ME have even less of a voice.
