Fred Friedberg

Fred Friedberg, PhD, is a research associate professor in the Applied Behavioral Medicine Research Institute at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA, and a psychologist in private practice specializing in the treatment of CFS, fibromyalgia, other chronic pain conditions, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). He is a founder and editor of the peer review journal: Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior, the quarterly professional journal of the professional organization, International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. He is the current President of the Board of Directors of the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFSME) and represented the IACFSME as a non-voting Liaison Representative at the Jan 12 & 13, 2017 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee meeting for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Education

 * PhD, City University of New York
 * AB, State University of New York at Buffalo

Awards

 * 2106, IACFSME Special Service Award – Dr. Fred Friedberg

Studies and articles

 * 2017, *Patient change attributions in self-management of severe chronic fatigue syndrome, Abstract"Results: 'Most improved participants referenced behavioral changes that included: increased relaxation, coping and stress reduction (44%), pacing (e.g. more rest, less exercise; 33%), and more physical activity/exercise (25%). For participants reporting ‘unchanged’ global ratings, the majority (63%) attributed their status to one or more of the following: nothing will help/illness acceptance/illness fluctuates without overall change (29%), everything is the same (24%) or does not know (17%). Participants with worsened global ratings most often attributed their decline to: changes in sleep (40.5%), deteriorating health (35%), specific life events (30%), and/or stress (30%). Treatment-assigned participants as compared to no treatment controls were significantly more likely (p = <.05) to cite increased awareness, relaxation/coping/stress reduction and pacing as their reasons for change. The frequency of active vs. passive coping categories also distinguished improved from non-improved patients. Conclusions: Patient attributions could be utilized by the clinician to shift patient perceptions of their illness status in a constructive direction, possibly leading to an enhanced quality of life.'"
 * 2016, Editorial: Cognitive-behavior therapy: why is it so vilified in the chronic fatigue syndrome community? "Conclusions:'Without the disease-denying rhetoric and exaggerated claims regarding recovery that have been linked to this illness, perhaps CBT would not have the bad reputation it has among many in the CFS community. That said, many patients do not care about the type of intervention as long as it helps them. Yet patient reaction particularly among activists has thoroughly rejected the utility of CBT. Perhaps a new approach to educating providers (and influential medical practice organizations) is needed in this divisive environment...The International Association for CFS/ME (IACFS/ME) Primer for Clinical Practitioners [21] approximates this more individualized approach to behavioral management with the patient and avoids the use of the CBT term given its negative connotations. With this more enlightened approach, we can do a better job of educating physicians and other practitioners on how to most effectively help CFS patients, rather than alienate them."
 * 2016, Efficacy of two delivery modes of behavioral self-management in severe chronic fatigue syndrome.
 * 2016, Fatigue severity in World Trade Center (9/11) responders: a preliminary study
 * 2016, Participant attributions for global change ratings in unexplained chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome Full text
 * 2015, Self-management and ambulatory monitoring in chronic fatigue syndrome: future directions, Editorial by Fred Friedberg
 * 2015, Prolonged fatigue in Ukraine and the United States: prevalence and risk factors. Abstract
 * 2014, Feasibility of a home-based self-management program for chronic fatigue. Abstract
 * 2013, Scientific status of fatigue and pain. Publishing and professional activities: 2002–2011Abstract
 * 2013, Chronic Fatigue Self- Management in Primary Care: A Randomized Trial Full text
 * 2009, Activity Logs as a Measure of Daily Activity Among Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. (Full text)
 * 1995, Coping Reports of Patients with Long-Term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
 * 1999, A Subgroup Analysis of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Studies"'Summary - Several studies of graded activity-oriented cognitive behavioral treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), all conducted in England, have reported dramatic improvements in functioning and substantial reductions in symptomatology. On the other hand, cognitive behavioral intervention studies conducted in Australia and the United States have not found significant improvements in functioning or CFS symptoms. Based on a review and synthesis of data from these clinical trials, naturalistic outcome investigations, and illness comparison studies, this articles argues that two CFS subgroups, distinguished by functional status and symptom severity, may account, in part, for the differences in outcome in cognitive behavioral treatment studies. It is also argued that differences in treatment duration may have influenced clinical outcomes. This article concludes with recommendations for specific cognitive behavioral interventions in CFS.'"
 * 1999, An Overview of Psychometric Assessment"'Summary - The assessment of a number of behavioral and psychoso-cial domains may be important in baseline and outcome evaluations of CFS patients. These domains include mood disturbance, functional status, sleep disturbance, global well-being (i.e., psychiatric status), pain, behavioral coping, social support, locus of control, illness behavior and illness attribution. This article describes a variety of pen-and-paper measures designed to assess these behavioral dimensions and summarizes their psychometric properties and applicability to CFS populations.'"
 * 1995, Clinical Assessment of Coping in CFS Patients

Primers

 * ME/CFS: A Primer For Clinical Practitioners - Dr. Friedberg chaired the writing committee for the 2014 edition of [[ME/CFS: A Primer For Clinical Practitioners]] sponsored by the International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Other members of the Primer writing committee members include: Rosemary Underhill, MB, BS; Lucinda Bateman, MD; Alison Bested, MD; Todd Davenport, DPT; Kenneth Friedman, PhD; Alan Gurwitt, MD; Leonard Jason, PhD; Charles Lapp, MD; Staci Stevens, MA; and Rosamund Vallings, MB, BS. Anthony Komaroff, MD wrote the foreword to the Primer.

Books

 * 2006, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Seven Proven Steps to Less Pain and More Energy, by Fred Friedberg
 * 2001, Clinician's Guide To Controversial Illnesses: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, by Renee R. Taylor, Fred Friedberg, and Leonard A. Jason
 * 1998, Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Empirical Guide to Assessment and Treatment, by Fred Friedberg and Leonard Jason

CFSAC testimony

 * June 2012, Written Public Testimony on behalf on IACFS/ME

Talks and interviews

 * 2016, 12th International IACFS/ME Biennial Clinical and Research Conference, Emerging Science and Clinical Care, Behavioral Assessment and Treatment of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia(Workshop given with Leonard Jason, Ph.D.)
 * 2011, "What Helps People Cope with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia" - Fred Friedberg, Ph.D. at the 10th International IACFSME Conference, Patient Agenda
 * 2009, "The Mystery of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" - Fred Friedberg joins the The New York Times Consults blog to answer readers’ questions about chronic fatigue syndrome

Learn more

 * Fred Friedberg bio page at Stony Brook University
 * 23 Jun 2016, Getting to the heart of chronic fatigue syndrome Fred Friedberg was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to research if "determine if heart rate fluctuations in combination with certain daily activity patterns can be used to predict or prevent relapse in people with CFS." The study data will be gathered from wearable mobile heart devices, participants' symptoms and activity diaries, and phone interviews from a psychiatric nurse.