MAGICAL MEDICINE: HOW TO MAKE AN ILLNESS ... - Invest in ME

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“Enhanced negative‐feedback sensitivity to glucocorticoids is often seen in (ME)CFS, as well as blunted
adrenocorticotropin response to stressors, and hypocortisolism. This supports the hypothesis that hypo‐function of the
HPA axis plays a role in (ME)CFS, and probably in GWI also. Disturbances of the HPA axis can be considered as a
pathway that links to the immunological disturbances evidenced in (ME)CFS and GWI.
“The shift in immune system functioning towards a Th2 (or allergy) profile has been evidenced before in GWI and
(ME)CFS patients.
“Several conditions are associated with changes in stress system activity through modulation of inflammatory
responses and the Th1/Th2 balance they may suppress or potentiate disease activity and/or progression (sic). The
differences seen here in stress hormones may represent an important mechanism by which stress affects immune‐related
disease susceptibility, activity and outcome.
“This study shows that exercise induces considerable physiological change in the immune system.
“The differences we found are focused in the NK and T‐cell populations, involving signal transduction processes.
“The question arises whether the altered number of NK cells is a consequence of the pathological status or a
primary condition that leads into the disease.
“Another important question is what role do NK cells have in maintaining immune homeostatis in disorders…such as
(ME)CFS and GWI? Our data support the idea of chronic immune cell dysfunction, which appears to be
centred on the NK and T‐cell lymphocyte populations.
“The most significant differences were observed immediately after the exercise challenge. This has positive
implications for the development of laboratory diagnostic tests for this and other syndromes such as
(ME)CFS”.
So extensive is the knowledge of the disrupted immune system in ME/CFS that for the PACE Trial
Investigators to dismiss it as “minor abnormalities” and to misinform participants seems culpable.
14. Participants who asked for references that support CBT and GET or who ventured to mention the
information on the internet that does not support the Wessely School’s notions were to be instructed that
there is a significant amount of inaccurate information on the internet and in other publications, and that it
should be approached with caution. This seems intentional, as there is plenty of information on the internet
provided by the Wessely School themselves showing that CBT/GET does not work in “CFS/ME” which, if
participants were aware of it, would undermine the Investigators’ attempts to conceal it
15. The therapists’ CBT Manual seems to amount to a systematic, highly detailed description of how to
indoctrinate someone. It has been described by a scientist who has read it in its entirety as “a really sinister
document” (personal communication).
All the therapists’ Manuals train therapists how to deal with people who think there is something physically
wrong with them: therapists are to tell patients that they agree with them, but as noted above, in truth the
therapists are trained to believe that apart from deconditioning there is nothing physically wrong with the
participants at all so, essentially, it appears that therapists are misleading patients.
There is no evidence that people with ME/CFS have any kind of psychiatric diagnosis, yet in the PACE Trial
participants are being patronised as though they are mentally incompetent. Information is withheld from
them and their symptoms are ignored or dismissed, whilst at the very heart of the intervention is the
assumption (which participants must be persuaded to accept) that their thoughts, beliefs and appropriate
behaviour are wrong. What other contemporary MRC clinical trial has treated participants with such
apparent disdain and such fundamental disregard for their autonomy?