13th September 2003
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Children - a Cross Sectional
Survey
The above peer reviewed study, by Dr.Maxine Patel, Dr.D.G.Smith, Dr.
T.Chalder and Prof. Simon Wessely, showing the success of
Dr.Smith's recovery method, was published in the October 2003 edition of the BMJ
publication Archives of Diseases of Childhood (Vol. 88 pages 894-898) A
full copy can be found
if you
Click here
The data needed for the Study was obtained by sending eligible patients a
battery of standardised questionnaires by post. Further data was later obtained
from the clinical notes and a follow up telephone call.
The Study involved thirty six children between the ages of eleven and eighteen,
who were all treated by Dr.Smith at his secondary referral clinic in South-East
England. Using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, graduated activity and low-dose
antidepressants (Tricyclics and SSRI's) these children have shown that recovery
is possible.
Initially the children were screened for anxiety and depression and subjected to
standard clinical investigations. After close discussion with parents and child
a personally tailored programme of modified activity was devised for both mental
and physical activity. The children followed their regimes in their home
environment, supported by their families, and were monitored monthly by Dr.Smith
in the early stages. Gradual return to school was encouraged as soon as was
practically possible and treatment appeared to double the number of children
actually attending school. Return to normal health or significant overall
improvement was reported by 29 of the 36 subjects (80.6%).
Dr. Smith has been treating children and adults, with considerable success, for
over ten years and, working within the NHS, has contracts with several Local
Area Health Authorities. This Study shows that whilst Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
entails significant suffering for children the prognosis is generally good and
indeed better than that reported elsewhere.
The Atrium Clinic
Part of the content on my Psychological
Therapy page was provided by the Atrium Clinic and you may be interested to
visit their site at
www.atriumclinic.co.uk
