Gabrielle Murphy

Source:measussex.org.uk

Dr Gabrielle Murphy is a specialist physician working in the Department of Immunity and Inflammation at the Royal Free Hospital in London. She is the Clinical Lead of the Fatigue Service at The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, North London, United Kingdom, (which primarily delivers Graded exercise therapy (GET) and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Books

• 2009, Coping Better With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for CFS/ME. Contents include: - Critical incidents, vulnerability factors and maintaining factors - Goal setting - Thoughts and feelings - Sleep - Activity - Energy capsules - Impact crosses - Challenging unhelpful patterns of thinking - Stress and anxiety - Core beliefs - Symptom mapping - Planning for setbacks - Medical perspective

British Association for CFS/ME (BACME)

Dr. Murphy is an executive member of the British Association for CFS/ME (BACME), an organization that supports GET and CBT in the treatment of ME/CFS. Her involvement with BACME included hosting the 2003 and 2005 Conferences, and being its Chair for 2004-2005.

Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society

Dr. Murphy serves as a medical Advisor for the Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society, a registered charity that informs, supports and represents those affected by Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) across Sussex and Kent.

PACE trial

Dr. Murphy is a co-author of the PACE trial, having referred patients from her clinic.

Open letter in support of Wessely and PACE

In Dec 2012, in response to criticism about the PACE trial and Sir Simon Wessely's psychological paradigm of ME/CFS, a letter of support for Dr. Wessely was published in several newspapers. Dr Murphy was one of the signatories. The letter construed legitimate questions about the PACE trial as a personal attack, thus perpetuating the myth that, as the letter states, "researchers in the field have been the target of a campaign to undermine their work and professional credibility."

Talks and interviews

• 2014, Dr Gabrielle Murphy - M.E. Research and Practice

Contact

• Email: rfh-tr.fatigueservice@nhs.net
• Address: The Fatigue Service, Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom ()

Learn More

• 2011, Patient's report of visit with Dr. Murphy
• 2007, Coercion as Cure Response

graded exercise therapy (GET) - A gradual increase in exercise or activity, according to a pre-defined plan. Focuses on overcoming the patient's alleged unhelpful illness beliefs that exertion can exacerbate symptoms, rather than on reversing physical deconditioning. Considered controversial, and possibly harmful, in the treatment or management of ME. One of the treatment arms of the controversial PACE trial.

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - A type of psychotherapy geared toward modifying alleged unhealthy thinking, behaviors or illness beliefs. One of the treatment arms used in the controversial PACE trial.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

cognition Thought processes, including attention, reasoning, and memory.

stress Stress can by either physical or psychological, or both. Stress is either 1) a state of emotional or psychological strain or 2) the physical stress (pressure or tension) that a physical object such the human body is placed under, e.g., a stress test is a medical test that monitors the cardiovascular system during strenuous exercise.

myalgic encephalopathy An alternate term that is sometimes used for myalgic encephalomyelitis, by people who believe the evidence for inflammation in ME is insufficient. This terminology reflects the belief that the "-itis" suffix implies inflammation.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.