I thought that the debate over whether ME was a physical or psychological disorder has long been settled and that the majority view was that it was a physical disorder caused by chemical changes/imbalances in the brain.

However, looking at the Decision makers guidance, that states in paragraph 16.2.3 that

"There is controversy over the causes of CFS. This is particualrly over whether it has a physical basis, (related to a persistant viral infection or disturbance of the immune system or some other cause) or is purely a psychological disorder, or is due to a number of factors, such as other conditions. Recent evidence (yet to be substantiated) suggest a functional disturbance in the brain. However, the significance of these findings is not yet clear"

ME is difficult enough to fit into the criteria for DLA, and if the above guidance represents current thinking within the world of the DM, then I can see why.

Interestingly, in para 16.8.1, referring to the EMP report, it states that "The report should state whether the accepted criteria for the diagnosis of CFS (ME) have been met, identify the severity, variability and fluctuation of the condition and estimate the relative predominance of the physical and psychological factors in the case." This raises another question of the suitability of EMP's to assess "Psychologiocal factors" etc.

Does anyone else have a stratagy/cunning plan for approaching these claims, or any up to date info/views on the causes?

Personally, I think the logic is the wrong way around - a person will possibly start to suffer from Depression etc as a result of developing ME - if I were suddenly to develop such a dibilitaing condition, which meant I felt constantly exhausted, then I think I'd pretty soon get depressed.....

Hi Mike,

No cunning plans I'm afraid, I tend to work on the basis that it is physically based and wait for them to argue otherwise.

It might be an idea to get hold of the DoH working group's report on ME (details on link below). This was the report that was biled as finally confirming the consensus that ME was a 'real' disease.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4011644&chk=OKUU4O

There was a report in the Times about a possible cause, the link might not work so here is text below;

December 22, 2003
Brain test proves fatigue syndrome
By Oliver Wright, Health Correspondent

DOCTORS believe that they may have found the first scientific evidence for chronic fatigue syndrome, which affects more than 150,000 people in Britain.
A team of researchers at Hammersmith Hospital, London, scanned the brains of sufferers of CFS, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or “yuppie flu”, and found enlarged gaps in fatty acids that were not present in non-sufferers. They have been backed by similar findings in Scotland and Japan.

They found that when sufferers were later treated with fish oil supplements the gaps in the brain closed and they started to feel better.
CFS leaves patients with flu-like symptoms of physical and mental exhaustion which can last for years. Often people are so badly affected that they can be bed-ridden. So far there has been no medical explanation and some experts have claimed that the condition does not really exist.
Researchers found that sufferers were low in a group of essential fatty acids, known as EPAs, high levels of which are found particularly in fish. Basant Puri, a neuro-psychiatrist at Hammersmith, said: “It was these natural gaps that we found to be enlarged in people with CFS. We have found what appears to be a cause for CFS but we don’t know why people get it.”
Action for ME, which represents sufferers of the illness, said that the research was welcome but it believed that there may be several causes. Chris Clark, the charity’s chief executive, said: “All the evidence so far suggests that there is no single cause.”

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-940225,00.html

I think this is what they refer to as the functional disturbance in the brain. It might be worth seeing whether Hammersmith Hospital has a website with more info about the study on it.

I think EMPs have no chance of properly assessing disability caused by ME but try convincing Tribunals that. However, the working group report makes some comment that ME suffers don't have many outward signs of disease (if my memory serves me correctly, a while since I read it) so that may be useful against 'muscle wasting' etc observations.

I have used the summary of the working group's report as supporting evidence and have generally been successful, although not done a ME case for a while.

Hope thats some help

Andy