A new challenge: mental health practitioners can learn from ME/CFS when supporting the long-term effects of COVID-19
A research paper from a team of researchers including Prof Leonard Jason and Dr Nina Muirhead believes that:
Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) have a unique opportunity to provide resources and support to those suffering from Long COVID (LC), the post infectious illness that often follows an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.
In working with these individuals, MHPs can learn from the experiences of patients with another post-infectious disease known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
ME/CFS was once thought to be a psychologically mediated disorder caused by deconditioning and the fear of exertion following a precipitating event such as a viral infection.
Research now shows that LC and ME/CFS are biomedical, multisystem, complex physiologic diseases. This article provides a framework to MHPs for the treatment of LC patients using knowledge derived from three decades of research on ME/CFS.
The paper includes information on the role of mental health therapists:
- Understanding the illness.
- Proper interviewing when considering biomedical and/or psychological diagnosis.
- Proper interviewing when considering biomedical and/or psychological diagnosis.
- Proper interviewing when considering biomedical and/or psychological diagnosis.
- Proper interviewing when considering biomedical and/or psychological diagnosis.
- When to refer to psychopharmacology.
Mental Health Practitioners can offer support with:
- Coping
- Post-exertional malaise (PEM) and pacing
- Sleep disturbances
- Dealing with individuals unfamiliar with LC or ME/CFS
- Role of social media and support
Read the full paper:
A new clinical challenge: Supporting patients coping with the long-term effects of COVID-19, by Neal C Goldberg, Sabrina Poirier, Allison Kanas, Lisa McCorkell, Carrie Anna McGinn, Yochai Re’em, Kathi Kuehnel, Nina Muirhead, Tahlia Ruschioni, Susan Taylor-Brown, Leonard A Jason in Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior, 10 Oct 2022 [doi.org/10.1080/21641846.2022.2128576]
