Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Lord Turnberg

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Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lord Turnberg Excerpts

Clerk of the Parliaments
Monday 8th November 2010

(13 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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My Lords, I am afraid I cannot give that figure as it is not in my brief, but I will write to my noble friend.

Lord Turnberg Portrait Lord Turnberg
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My Lords, is it not the case that we have not been able to discover the cause of this very unpleasant disease so far and we have no real effective treatments? While we are waiting for both of those, the best form of management seems to be cognitive behavioural therapy. Does he agree?

Earl Howe Portrait Earl Howe
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My Lords, cognitive behavioural therapy is indeed part of the NICE recommendations, but only a part in so far as it is appropriate for any chronic condition to have such therapy. I am sure that the noble Lord agrees that the NICE guidance recognised a clinical and physical basis to this condition as well. Therefore, a multifactorial approach is appropriate.

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