WAMES supports proposal to classify ME as neurological
WAMES has submitted our comment on a proposal for the revision of the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD):
The Welsh Association of ME & CFS Support (WAMES) supports the proposal for the ICD-11 revision submitted by Chapman and Dimmock on 27th March 2017.
WAMES agrees that Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and Postviral fatigue syndrome should continue to be classified at G93.3 in the chapter on Diseases of the nervous system. Although research has found dysfunction in a number of the body’s systems (e.g. neurological, immune, endocrine, autonomic) there is significant Central Nervous System involvement and unless research provides a clearer and different picture of the aetiology of the condition, it should not be moved. In addition, the symptoms often present in a similar way to other neurological conditions (e.g. MS) so it fits naturally in this category.
We agree that the term “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” and “Myalgic encephalomyelitis” should be the concept titles, with separate codes, as the terms are not always used to mean the same thing and are likely to be increasingly identified with different subgroups of illness. We agree that “Postviral fatigue syndrome” should be removed as a lead term because not all cases are postviral. We also agree that the ICD-10 term “benign myalgic encephalomyelitis” should be modified to “myalgic encephalomyelitis” as the condition is not benign. It is complex and leads to considerable debility.
WAMES believes it is important that ICD-11 should not contribute to the current confusion amongst many health professionals between, on the one hand Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and on the other hand idiopathic chronic fatigue, bodily distress disorder (BDD) / medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) etc. Exclusions for ME and CFS should be noted in the revised section on somatoform disorders in the Mental health section of ICD-11.
- 549 individuals or organisations have agreed with the proposal
- over 380 comments have been submitted
- 53 organisations from around the world have responded
More information: dx revision watch – monitoring the development of ICD-11 and DSM-5 #patientsneedprotection support proposal for ICD-11
Twitter @dxrevisionwatch
