Is it all in my head?

http://articles.health.msn.com/id/100108081?GT1=7003 (via Psychology
Today)
"What you believe about your illness influences how sick you become."

Hard to believe this kinda crap is still making the rounds, but I know
it is because I've heard it:

Excerpts:

In one study conducted by Wayne Katon, professor of psychiatry at the
University of Washington in Seattle, 90 percent of fibromyalgia
patients had a prior psychiatric diagnosis. Another study, at the
University of Leeds, found that patients who had developed chronic
fatigue were nine times more likely to have suffered stressful events
and difficulties in the three months before the onset of disease than
were healthy subjects. The implication is clear: Unlike other diseases,
these disorders are closely connected to psychological distress,
whether it takes the shape of a major psychiatric disorder or simply
poor coping mechanisms.
....

According to Katon's clinical observations, patients with chronic
fatigue or fibromyalgia tend to be highly driven overachievers
unaccustomed to feeling any loss of control. When injured or sickened,
those who decide that the pain or illness has overwhelmingly and
permanently damaged their bodies come to feel victimized and unable to
cope. Learned helplessness sets in, and patients can find themselves
perpetually depressed and inactive.
....

Patients with chronic fatigue who attribute their illness solely to
external causes, such as a virus, seem to stay sicker than those who
acknowledge the possible interplay of psychological factors. "Your
beliefs about the illness are important," says Buchwald. "If you're
wedded to an idea that your illness has a single specific cause, your
chances of getting better are diminished, because you're not addressing
parts of the illness that could be prolonging it." Instead, she
suggests, patients should focus on actively following treatment advice
and avoiding social isolation.
....

Because beliefs have such a powerful impact on well-being, the
techniques that people use to cope with other diseases can backfire in
the case of chronic fatigue. Ironically, patient advocacy groups may be
more harmful than helpful, studies have suggested, possibly by
reinforcing a sense of victimization or by giving misguided advice,
such as actively discouraging all exercise.

"The support groups are very anti-psychological," says Katon. "A lot of
times they act to inadvertently reinforce illness beliefs [such as fear
of relapse or exhaustion] that are potentially harmful to patients."
Those in support groups often report more severe illness, and say that
they feel worse since joining the group than do dropouts.
___________

Unbelievable.
And I've heard that very message about support groups before. Damned
shrinks. "If you think it's not psych-based, *you* are the problem."
Resistance is futile. You *will* be assimilated. Pay at the door,
please.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Is it all in my head?
    ... > Psychology Today) ... > "What you believe about your illness influences how sick you ... > fibromyalgia patients had a prior psychiatric diagnosis. ... regular treatment but not *instead* of regular treatment. ...
    (alt.med.fibromyalgia)
  • Re: Is it all in my head?
    ... Yesterday a doctor told me this about *MY* problems too. ... as a *real* illness and doctors who send their patients home in worse ... >> patients had a prior psychiatric diagnosis. ... >> And I've heard that very message about support groups before. ...
    (alt.med.fibromyalgia)
  • Re: Christine Jennings ends hunger strike
    ... > up for themselves, not just wrt lyme, but wrt any illness. ... patients with a disease like Lyme; ... Lyme is NOT unique as a chronic or major illness that requires ... > and render adequate treatment. ...
    (sci.med.diseases.lyme)
  • Re: Is it all in my head?
    ... > "What you believe about your illness influences how sick you become." ... > patients had a prior psychiatric diagnosis. ... > Patients with chronic fatigue who attribute their illness solely to ... > And I've heard that very message about support groups before. ...
    (alt.med.fibromyalgia)
  • Re: Is it all in my head?
    ... > "What you believe about your illness influences how sick you become." ... > patients had a prior psychiatric diagnosis. ... > Patients with chronic fatigue who attribute their illness solely to ... > And I've heard that very message about support groups before. ...
    (alt.med.fibromyalgia)