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Colin McEvedy

2025-12-09T15:30:11Z

Historycurious:added direct Time article reference

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Dr '''Colin Peter McEvedy''' (1930-2005) was a British consultant psychiatrist McEvedy best known for his research on [[hysteria]], bubonic plague and the history of [[polio]].<ref name="McEvedyBio">{{Cite journal | last = Richmond | first = Caroline | authorlink = | date = Oct 8, 2005 | title = Colin McEvedy | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1246098/ | journal = BMJ : British Medical Journal|volume=331 | issue = 7520 | pages = 847|issn=0959-8138|pmc=1246098|quote=|via=}}</ref>

==Benign myalgic encephalomyelitis controversy ==
In 1970, Colin McEvedy and fellow psychiatrist [[William Beard|A William Beard]] published an influential study of 15 epidemics of [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], then known as ''benign myalgic encephalomyelitis'', concluding that the illness was the result of ''psychosocial phenomena'', and caused by either "[[mass hysteria]] on the part of patients" or "altered medical perception of the community".

The authors reached their conclusions in spite of the fact that "no patient was examined, no history was taken, not even was there any consultation with any of the senior or junior physicians who had been responsible for examining and treating these injured patients"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|title=A new and simple definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a new simple definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & A Brief History of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and an Irreverent History of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome|last=Hyde|first=Byron|authorlink=Byron Hyde|date=May 12, 2006|website=Irish M.E. Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609034420/https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|archive-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>, and justified them in part based on patients being predominantly women, saying, "We believe these epidemiological peculiarities — the predilection for young women and for institutions containing an undue proportion of them — provide good positive evidence for mass hysteria as an explanation of the illness.”<ref name="McEvedy-Beard">{{cite journal | date = | title = Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis |url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ | journal = [[British Medical Journal]]|volume=1 | issue = 5687 | pages = 11–5|doi=10.1136/bmj.1.5687.11|pmc=1700895|pmid=5411596 | last = McEvedy|first = CP|quote= | authorlink = Colin McEvedy | author-link2 = William Beard|via= | last2 = Beard | first2 = AW}}</ref>

Asked years later by [[Byron Hyde|Lord Byron Hyde]], "Why had he written up the Free Hospital epidemics as hysteria without any careful exploration of the basis of his thesis?", McEvedy replied, "It was an easy PhD, why not."<ref name=":0" />

The published paper was covered in Time magazine<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/archive/6816451/behavior-mass-hysteria/|title=Behavior: Mass Hysteria {{!}} TIME|website=time.com|access-date=2025-12-09}}</ref>, and resulted in, "funding [for ME research] from governments and major donors [drying] up and many physicians, perhaps influenced as much by a Time Magazine article as in the British Medical Journal, [turning] their back on this significant illness that was Myalgic Encephalomyelitis."<ref name=":0" />

==Notable studies ==
*1970, Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis<ref name="McEvedy-Beard" /> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ (Full text)]

==See also ==
* [[History of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome]]
* [[William Beard]]
* [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis]]

==Learn more ==
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1246098/ Colin McEvedy (obituary)]

==References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Researchers]]
[[Category:Psychological paradigm proponents]]
[[Category:UK researchers]]

Cochrane

2025-12-09T14:46:22Z

Historycurious:adds section on cancellation of the cochrane review

'''Cochrane''' (previously called the '''Cochrane Collaboration''') is an independent, non-profit organization run by volunteers around the world which conducts systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials of health-care interventions and [[:Category:Tests|diagnostic tests]].<ref name="about">{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochrane.org/about-us | title = About us | website = cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> Cochrane reviews are frequently referred to as the gold standard of evidence in medicine and are highly influential in healthcare policy,<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-library-improved-online-platform-guide-health-decision-making-across-world | title = Cochrane Library: an improved online platform to guide health decision-making across the world | website = cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Smith2013">{{Cite journal | last = Smith|first = Richard | date = 2013-12-18 | title = The Cochrane Collaboration at 20 | url = https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7383 | journal = BMJ|language=en | volume = 347 | pages = f7383|doi=10.1136/bmj.f7383|issn=1756-1833|pmid=24353100}}</ref> although recently Cochrane has been criticized for abandoning its core values.<ref name="Ioannidis2019">{{Cite journal | last = Ioannidis | first = John P.A. | date = 2019 | title=Cochrane crisis: Secrecy, intolerance and evidence-based values |url = https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eci.13058 | journal = European Journal of Clinical Investigation|language=en | volume = 49 | issue = 3| pages = e13058|doi=10.1111/eci.13058|issn=1365-2362}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last = Goldacre | first = Ben | last2 = Vale | first2 = Luke | last3 = Sheriff | first3 = Rebecca Syed | last4 = Ota | first4 = Erika | last5 = Moher | first5 = David | last6 = Kwong | first6 = Joey | last7 = Jayaram | first7 = Mahesh | last8 = Ioannidis | first8 = John PA | last9 = Hoffmann | first9 = Tammy | date = 2018-07-30 | title = Why Cochrane should prioritise sharing data | url = https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3229 | journal = BMJ|language=en | volume = 362 | pages = k3229|doi=10.1136/bmj.k3229|issn=0959-8138|pmid=30061322 | issue = |quote= | authorlink = Ben Goldacre | author-link2 = Luke Vale | author-link3 = Rebecca Sheriff | author-link4 = Erika Ota | author-link5 = Davd Moher|via=}}</ref>

== History ==
The Cochrane Collaboration was founded in 1993 as part of a movement that called for evidence based medicine.<ref name="Cochranehist">{{Cite web | url = https://community.cochrane.org/handbook-sri/chapter-1-introduction/11-cochrane/112-brief-history-cochrane | title = 1.1.2 A brief history of Cochrane | website = community.cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> The name refers to the Scottish doctor Archie Cochrane who advocated the use of randomized control trials to make medicine more efficient.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Shah|first = Hriday M. | last2 = Chung | first2 = Kevin C. | date = Sep 2009 | title = Archie Cochrane and his vision for evidence-based medicine | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2746659/ | journal = Plastic and reconstructive surgery | volume = 124 | issue = 3 | pages = 982–988|doi=10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181b03928|issn=0032-1052|pmc=2746659|pmid=19730323}}</ref> In origin, Cochrane is a British charity. It arose from the ground-breaking work of Iain Chalmers and colleagues who, in the late 1980s, created a database of systematic reviews on effective care in pregnancy and childbirth.<ref name="Cochranehist" /> This idea of forming a library of reliable and systematic reviews on clinical interventions was extended to other fields of medicine and became the basis of The Cochrane collaboration.<ref name="Chalmers1993">{{Cite journal | last = Chalmers | first = I. | date = 1993-12-31 | title = The Cochrane collaboration: preparing, maintaining, and disseminating systematic reviews of the effects of health care | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8192293 | journal = Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | volume = 703 | pages = 156–163; discussion 163–165|issn=0077-8923|pmid=8192293}}</ref>

Over the years, Cochrane has developed into an internationally renowned institute. At the celebration of its 20 years existence, it had more than 31,000 contributors from 120 countries and has published more than 5000 systematic reviews.<ref name="Smith2013" /><ref name="nature2013">{{Cite web | url = https://www.nature.com/articles/6400907.pdf?origin=ppub | last = Richards | first =D. | date = 2013 | title = 20 years of the Cochrane Collaboration | journal = Nature}}</ref>, although some require a paid subscription or registration before reading.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/help/access | title = Cochrane Library access options | website = Cochrane Library|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>

==Chronic fatigue syndrome==
Cochrane lists [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] (CFS) under its "neurology" and "mental health" categories<ref name="CochraneCFS" /> and its chronic fatigue syndrome reviews are produced by its "Common Mental Disorders Group".<ref name="CochraneCFS">{{Cite web | url = https://cmd.cochrane.org/scope-our-work | title = Scope of our work|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02 | date = | website = | last = Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group|first = | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=}}</ref>

==Exercise therapy in CFS review==
The Cochrane review on [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapy]] (graded exercise therapy) in [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] has frequently been cited as a justification for this controversial intervention in patients with ME/CFS.<ref name="mrc2018">{{Cite web | url = https://mrc.ukri.org/news/browse/criticism-of-the-pace-trial/ | title = Criticism of the PACE trial | last = Medical Research Council|first = | date = 2018-08-28 | website = mrc.ukri.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05 | authorlink = Medical Research Council|archive-date=|url-status=}}</ref><ref name="Barry2017">{{Cite journal | last = Barry|first = Benjamin K. | last2 = Lloyd | first2 = Andrew R. | last3 = Bogg | first3 = Tina | last4 = Cassar | first4 = Joanne | last5 = Casson | first5 = Sally M. | last6 = Sandler | first6 = Carolina X. | last7 = Li | first7 = Sophie H. | date = 2017-05-01 | title = Randomised controlled trial of online continuing education for health professionals to improve the management of chronic fatigue syndrome: a study protocol | url = https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/5/e014133 | journal = BMJ Open|language=en | volume = 7 | issue = 5| pages = e014133|doi=10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014133|issn=2044-6055|pmid=28495811}}</ref> The review, however, has been criticized for having methodological flaws,<ref name="vink2018">{{Cite journal | last = Vink|first = Mark | last2 = Vink-Niese | first2 = Alexandra | date = Jul 2018 | title = Graded exercise therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective and unsafe. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30305916 | journal = Health Psychology Open | volume = 5 | issue = 2 | pages = 2055102918805187|doi=10.1177/2055102918805187|issn=2055-1029|pmc=|pmid=30305916|quote= | authorlink = Mark Vink | author-link2 = Alexandra Vink-Niese|via=}}</ref> and a formal complaint by a patient outlined significant flaws, leading to further revisions.<ref name="CourtneyComplaint" /> Cochrane revised the exercise therapy for CFS review six times since 2015, publishing a final version with altered conclusions in October 2019.<ref name="exercisetherapy2Oct2019" /> Cochrane stated that the review is "substantially out of date and in need of updating."<ref name="Cochrane2019Note">{{Cite web | last = | first = | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/content?templateType=information&urlTitle=/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8&doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8&type=cdsr&contentLanguage= | website = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome {{!}} Information | date = Oct 2, 2019|access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref> On May 21, 2020, Cochrane made a new announcement committing to a full review:
<blockquote>"In the last nine months, this Cochrane Review has been modified by the review’s authors and evaluated by independent peer reviewers and editors. It now places more emphasis on the limited applicability of the evidence to definitions of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) used in the included studies, the long-term effects of exercise on symptoms of fatigue, and acknowledges the limitations of the evidence about harms that may occur... 
[T]oday we are committing to the production of a full update of this Cochrane Review, beginning with a comprehensive review of the protocol, which will be developed in consultation with an independent advisory group that we intend to convene."<ref name="ednote2Oct2019"/></blockquote>

=== Sudden cancellation ===
In 2024, Cochrane canceled the promised review with no warning, scrubbed much of the history of the project from their website, and altered the date on the original review from 2019 to 2024.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.meaction.net/post/press-release-cochrane-library-faces-backlash-over-me-cfs-review-cancellation|title=Press Release: Cochrane Library Faces Backlash Over ME/CFS Review Cancellation|date=2025-01-31|work=#MEAction|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://virology.ws/2024/12/23/trial-by-error-cochrane-continues-telling-me-cfs-patients-to-go-f-k-themselves/|title=Trial By Error: Cochrane Continues Telling ME/CFS Patients to Go F--k Themselves {{!}} Virology Blog|date=2024-12-23|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://hbprojecttalk.wordpress.com/2025/01/24/independent-advisory-group-open-letter-to-cochrane/|title=Independent Advisory Group Open Letter to Cochrane – Project Talk Page|website=hbprojecttalk.wordpress.com|access-date=2025-12-09}}</ref>

This garnered criticism from [[The MEAction Network|MEAction]]<ref name=":0" />, [[David Tuller]]<ref name=":1" />, and the Independent Advisory Group, "a stakeholder engagement initiative for the Cochrane review on exercise and ME/CFS"<ref name=":2" /> who sent an open letter to Cochrane protesting the decision to cancel the review, the failure to add an editorial note to the original paper, and the date change:<blockquote>We express our dismay and concern at the rejection of our formal advice in 2024 to append an editorial note to the current version of the review stating that it is out of date and should not be used for clinical decision-making, as Cochrane has done for other reviews. Instead, Cochrane re-issued the review in December, dated it 2024 despite the last search for studies being over 10 years ago, ostensibly affirming its content as current, again without discussion with us, its appointed advisors. Cochrane has thereby further intervened in this issue, without having properly addressed criticisms of the review, subsequent evidence and developments in the field, or its very outdated methodology.<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>An investigative journalist, Martin Rücker, reported that reasons for the cancellation included "conflict fatigue" after a surge in criticism Cochrane received after publishing a controversial paper on mask-wearing to prevent COVID-19 infections<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-cochrane-mask-fiasco-how-the-evidence-based-medicine-paradigm-can-produce-misleading-results/|title=The Cochrane mask fiasco: How the evidence-based medicine paradigm can produce misleading results|last=Gorski|first=David|date=2023-03-13|work=Science-Based Medicine|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en-US}}</ref>, and pressure from "graded exercise advocates" who wanted to prevent the review from happening at all.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riffreporter.de/de/genossenschaft/recherche-kollektive/postviral|title=Recherche-Kollektiv Postviral: Alles über Long Covid, ME/CFS & Co|website=www.riffreporter.de|access-date=2025-12-09}}</ref>

==Chronic fatigue syndrome publications ==
Cochrane has published several reviews assessing treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome:
* 2008, [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001027.pub2/abstract Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults]<ref name="Cochrane2008">{{Cite journal | last = Price | first = Jonathan R. | authorlink = Jonathan Price | last2 = Mitchell | first2 = Edward | author-link2 = Edward Mitchell | last3 = Tidy | first3 = Elizabeth | author-link3 = Elizabeth Tidy | last4 = Hunot | first4 = Vivien | author-link4 = Vivien Hunot | date = 2008 | title = Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults |url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001027.pub2/abstract | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | issue = 3|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001027.pub2|issn=1465-1858 | pages = |quote=|via= | volume = }}</ref><ref name="Cochrane2014">{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | last2 = Odgaard‐Jensen | first2 = Jan | author-link2 = Jan Odgaard‐Jensen | last3 = Brurberg | first3 = Kjetil G. | author-link3 = Kjetil Brurberg | last4 = Chalder | first4 = Trudie | author-link4 = Trudie Chalder | last5 = Dybwad | first5 = Marianne | author-link5 = Marianne Dybwad | last6 = Moss‐Morris | first6 = Rona E. | author-link6 = Rona Moss-Morris|last7 = Sharpe | first7 = Michael | author-link8 = Michael Sharpe | last8 = Wallman | first8 = Karen | author-link8 = Karen Wallman | first9 = Alison | last9 = Wearden |author-link9 = Alison Wearden | last10 = White | first10 = Peter | author-link10 = Peter White | last11 = Glasziou | first11 = Paul P | author-link11 = Paul Glasziou| date = 2014 | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome (individual patient data) | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011040/abstract | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | volume = | issue = 4 | pages = CD011040 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD011040|issn=1465-1858|pmc = PMC6494520 | quote=|via=}}</ref>
* 2014, [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011040/abstract Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome (individual patient data)]<ref name="Cochrane2014" /> - withdrawn as protocol no longer being progressed to a review<ref name=Cochranewithdrawndata> https://www.cochranelibrary.com/content?templateType=full&urlTitle=/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011040.pub2&doi=10.1002/14651858.CD011040.pub2&type=cdsr&contentLanguage=</ref>

*2016, [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub4/full Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome]<ref name="Cochrane2016">{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | last2 = Brurberg | first2 = Kjetil G. | last3 = Odgaard‐Jensen | first3 = Jan | last4 = Price | first4 = Jonathan R. | date = 2016 | title=Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub4/abstract | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | issue = 2|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub4|issn=1465-1858 | pages = |quote= | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | author-link2 = Kjetil Brurberg | author-link3 = Jan Odgaard-Jensen | author-link4 = Jonathan Price|via= | volume = }}</ref>

* 2017, [https://www.cochrane.org/CD003200/DEPRESSN_exercise-treatment-patients-chronic-fatigue-syndrome Exercise as treatment for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome]<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | last2 = Brurberg | first2 = Kjetil G. | last3 = Odgaard-Jensen | first3 = Jan | last4 = Price | first4 = Jonathan R | date = 2017-04-25 | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://www.cochrane.org/CD003200/DEPRESSN_exercise-treatment-patients-chronic-fatigue-syndrome | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub7|issn=1465-1858 | issue = | pages = |quote= | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | author-link2 = Kjetil Brurberg | author-link3 = Jan Odgaard-Jensen | author-link4 = Jonathan Price|via= | volume = }}</ref>
** [https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-chronicfatigue-dispute/exclusive-science-journal-to-withdraw-chronic-fatigue-review-amid-patient-activist-complaints-idINKCN1MR2PI Exclusive: Science journal to withdraw chronic fatigue review amid patient activist complaints]<ref name="reuters2018">{{Cite news |url = https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-chronicfatigue-dispute/exclusive-science-journal-to-withdraw-chronic-fatigue-review-amid-patient-activist-complaints-idINKCN1MR2PI | title = Exclusive: Science journal to withdraw chronic fatigue review amid... | last = Kelland | first = Kate | date = Oct 17, 2018|work=IN|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en}}</ref>
*2019, [https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8/full Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome]<ref name="exercisetherapy2Oct2019">{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | last2 = Brurberg | first2 = Kjetil G | author-link2 = Kjetil Brurberg | last3 = Odgaard-Jensen | first3 = Jan | author-link3 = Jan Odgaard-Jensen | last4 = Price | first4 = Jonathan R | author-link4 = | date = 2019-10-02 | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8 | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = | issue = | pages = |doi=10.1002/14651858.cd003200.pub8|issn=1465-1858|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=Oct 2, 2019|quote=|via=}}</ref>
**[https://www.cochrane.org/news/publication-cochrane-review-exercise-therapy-chronic-fatigue-syndrome '''Editorial note:''' Publication of Cochrane Review: ‘Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome’]<ref name="ednote2Oct2019">{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochrane.org/news/publication-cochrane-review-exercise-therapy-chronic-fatigue-syndrome | title = Publication of Cochrane Review: ‘Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome’ | last = | first = | authorlink = | date = Oct 2, 2019 | website = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref>

=== Other withdrawn pages ===
* [https://www.cochrane.org/CD006348/DEPRESSN_traditional-chinese-medicinal-herbs-chronic-fatigue Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic fatigue]<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Adams | first = Denise | last2 = Wu | first2 = Taixiang | last3 = Yang | first3 = Xunzhe | last4 = Tai | first4 = Shusheng | last5 = Vohra | first5 = Sunita | date = 2018-10-15 | title = Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of idiopathic chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://www.cochrane.org/CD006348/DEPRESSN_traditional-chinese-medicinal-herbs-chronic-fatigue | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006348.pub3|issn=1465-1858}}</ref> (''Health topics'' noted CFS under "Mental health".)

==Criticism and commentary on Cochrane CFS reviews ==
=== Formal complaint to Dr. David Tovey, Editor in Chief of the Cochrane Library ===
* Feb 12, 2018, [https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhy95caezsmcue7/Robert%20Courtney%20Cochrane%20complaint(1).zip?dl=0&file_subpath=%2FRobert+Courtney+Cochrane+complaint.pdf This is a formal complaint with respect to the current version of "Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome" by L. Larun et al. (Cochrane Database Syste Rev. 2017; CD003200.)]<ref name="CourtneyComplaint">{{Cite web | url = https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhy95caezsmcue7/Robert%20Courtney%20Cochrane%20complaint(1).zip?dl=0&file_subpath=%2FRobert+Courtney+Cochrane+complaint.pdf | title=This is a formal complaint with respect to the current version of "Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome" by L. Larun et al. (Cochrane Database Syste Rev. 2017; CD003200.) | last = Courtney|first =Robert | authorlink = Robert Courtney | date = Feb 12, 2018}}</ref>

==Criticism & Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest==
'''2016'''

Professor [[James Coyne]] has criticized Cochrane's work assessing exercise as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, asking it "to consider the implications of having authors conduct a systematic review with the Cochrane collaboration brand attached who have ties to an industry which would benefit from particular conclusions. These same conclusions would personally enrich some of the authors professionally and personally", referring to the involvement of [[Trudie Chalder]], [[Rona Moss-Morris]], [[Michael Sharpe]], [[Alison Wearden]] and [[Peter White]] who are also authors of the [[PACE trial]].<ref name="Coyne20160105">{{citation | last =Coyne | first1 = James | author-link1 = James Coyne | title = Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms
| website=Quick Thoughts blog | date = Jan 5, 2016 | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-a-systematic-review-protocol-of-interventions-for-medically-unexplained-symptoms/ }}</ref><ref name="Coyne20160320">{{citation | last =Coyne | first1 = James | author-link1 = James Coyne | title = Why the Cochrane Collaboration needs to clean up conflicts of interest
| website=Quick Thoughts blog | date = Mar 20, 2016 | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/why-the-cochrane-collaboration-needs-to-clean-up-conflicts-of-interest/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/probing-an-untrustworthy-cochrane-review-of-exercise-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/ | title = Probing an untrustworthy Cochrane review of exercise for “chronic fatigue syndrome” | last = Coyne | first = James | date = 2016-04-23|work=Quick Thoughts|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-US}}</ref>

Prof. Coyne also wrote an open letter to Cochrane in March 2016 regarding the upcoming Cochrane review and conflicts of interests.<ref name="Coyne2016a">{{Cite web | url = https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/blogs/news/an-open-letter-to-the-cochrane-collaboration-bill-silverman-lies-a-moldering-in-his-grave | title = An open letter to the Cochrane Collaboration: Bill Silverman lies a-moldering-in his grave – Coyne of the Realm | last = Coyne | first = James | date = Mar 6, 2016 | website = Coyne of the Realm|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2018-10-17}} </ref><ref name="Coyne2016b">{{Cite news |url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/my-response-to-an-invitation-to-improve-the-cochrane-collaboration-by-challenging-its-policies/ | title = My response to an invitation to improve the Cochrane Collaboration by challenging its policies | last = Coyne | first = James | date = 2016-04-21|work=Quick Thoughts|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2016, the 2014 Cochrane Intervention Protocol was modified to include previously undisclosed conflicts of interest for Peter White: "PDW has undertaken consultancy work for a re-insurance firm. He has also undertaken voluntary consultancy for the [[Department for Work and Pensions|Departments of Health, Work and Pensions]] and is a member of the Independent Medical Experts Group, a non-Governmental organization which advises the Ministry of Defense regarding their Armed Forces Compensation Fund."<ref name="Coyne20160319">{{citation | last =Coyne | first1 = James | author-link1 = James Coyne | title = Update to: Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms
| website = Quick Thoughts Blog | date = Mar 19, 2016 | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-a-systematic-review-protocol-of-interventions-for-medically-unexplained-symptoms/ }}</ref>

It was admitted in the information tribunal of April 2016 on page 31 that "Professor Chalder states that disclosure to the Cochrane review does not count as disclosure to independent scientists as all three of the [[PACE Trial Management Group|PACE]] principal investigators sat on the review panel."<ref name="QMUL-appeal">{{Cite web | url = http://informationrights.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk//DBFiles/Decision/i1854/Queen%20Mary%20University%20of%20London%20EA-2015-0269%20(12-8-16).PDF | title = Appeal Number: EA/2015/0269, Appellant: Queen Mary University of London, Respondent: The Information Commissioner, Second Respondent: Alem Matthees | last = | first = | date = Apr 22, 2016 | website = tribunals.gov.uk| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=}}</ref>

'''2017'''

On April 14, 2017 Prof James Coyne submitted a very early request for the data to Cochrane along with an open letter.<ref name="Coyne2017">{{Cite news |url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/why-i-am-formally-requesting-the-data-set-from-a-cochrane-review/ | title = Why I am formally requesting the data set from a Cochrane review | last = Coyne | first = James | date = 2017-04-13|work=Quick Thoughts|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-US}} </ref>

A liaison psychiatrist publishing in the ''British Journal of Psychiatry'' has criticized the '[[Graded exercise therapy|Exercise Therapy]] for CFS' for being heavily influenced by the PACE trial.<ref name="MEA2017Cochrane">{{Cite web | url = http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2017/05/liaison-psychiatrist-suggests-that-cochrane-review-on-exercise-therapy-in-cfs-was-heavily-influenced-by-controversial-pace-trial-6-may-2017/ | title = Liaison psychiatrist says that Cochrane Review on exercise therapy in CFS was heavily influenced by controversial PACE Trial {{!}} 6 May 2017 | last = | first = | date = May 6, 2017 | website = [[The ME Association]]| publisher = The British Journal of Psychology|language=en-US| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2018-10-17 | authorlink = }}</ref><ref name="Mitchell2017">{{Cite journal | last = Mitchell|first = Alex J. | authorlink = | date = May 2017 | title = Controversy over exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: Key lessons for clinicians and academics: Commentary on… Cochrane Corner |url =https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-advances/article/controversy-over-exercise-therapy-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-key-lessons-for-clinicians-and-academics/31FAABA6A2C20FDAA4766C6D37E9614C | journal = BJPsych Advances|language=en | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 145–148|doi=10.1192/apt.bp.116.016261|issn=2056-4678|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref>

According to Coyne, one of the authors of the controversial Cochrane Exercise therapy review, [[Kjetil Brurberg|Kjetil Gundro Brurberg]], misrepresented the conflicts of interest of himself and his reviewers regarding his article '''A PACE-gate or an editorial without perspectives''' after being given a number of opportunities to do so. This was an article he was invited to publish in the [[Journal of Health Psychology]], and Coyne describes Brurberg's actions as "scientific misconduct".<ref name="Brurberg">{{Cite web | url= https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/07/19/misconduct-in-an-authors-nomination-of-reviewers-for-his-manuscript/ | title = Misconduct in an author's nomination of reviewers for his manuscript | last = Coyne | first = James | authorlink = James Coyne | date = Jul 19, 2017 | website = coyneoftherealm.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602171046/https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/07/19/misconduct-in-an-authors-nomination-of-reviewers-for-his-manuscript/|archive-date=Jun 2, 2020|url-status=|access-date=}}</ref> According to Coyne, Brurberg had been invited to publish about the [[PACE trial]] by the Journal of Health Psychology but his manuscript was rejected after a negative peer review. Coyne states Brurberg appealed he was given opportunity to nominate reviewers without conflicts of interest, but two had clear conflicts of interest and a third reviewer responsed declaring a conflict of interest - that Michael Sharpe (second author of the PACE trial) had previously been his supervisor; Brurberg's article was rejected and then published in the '''Mental Elf''' website.<ref name="Brurberg" />

'''2018'''

On September 3, 2018, Dr [[David Tuller]] examined in 'The Cochrane Controversy' the systematic reviews which relied upon the flawed PACE trial and associated [[Cognitive behavioral therapy|CBT]]/[[Graded exercise therapy|GET]] studies and even its wrongful categorization in the Common Mental Disorders group.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2018/09/03/trial-by-error-the-cochrane-controversy/ | title = Trial By Error: The Cochrane Controversy | last = Tuller | first = David | date = Sep 3, 2018 | website = [[Virology blog]]|language=en-US| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2018-10-17 | authorlink = David Tuller}}</ref>

On September 14, 2018 the Cochrane Collaboration had a mass resignation of its board after it decided to expel a founding member who had written a review which stated that "‘The Cochrane HPV vaccine review was incomplete and ignored important evidence of bias’ and published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine".<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://davidfmarks.com/2018/09/27/is-cochrane-sunk/ | title = Cochrane Catastrophe | date = 2018-09-27|work=davidfmarks.com|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en-US | last = Marks | first = David F.|quote= | authorlink = David Marks| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | publisher=}}</ref>

October 8, 2018, [[Mark Vink]] and Alexandra Vink-Niese reanalyzed the Cochrane's review of GET for ME/CFS concluding there is no evidence GET is effective and "failure to report harms adequately in the trials covered by the review, it cannot be said that graded exercise therapy is safe."<ref name="Vink2018">{{Cite journal | last = Vink|first = Mark | last2 = Vink-Niese | first2 = Alexandra | date = 2018 | title = Graded exercise therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective and unsafe. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review | url = http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2055102918805187 | journal = Health Psychology Open|language=en | volume = 5 | issue = 2 | pages = 205510291880518|doi=10.1177/2055102918805187|issn=2055-1029|pmc=|pmid=30305916|via=}}</ref> Their reanalysis also stated that all four Cochrane reviewers were proponents of the [[Biopsychosocial model|biopsychosocial]] model.<ref name="Vink2018" />

On October 17, 2018 it was announced that Cochrane would be temporarily withdrawing its exercise therapy for CFS review from the Cochrane Library.<ref name="reuters2018" /> The Cochrane Editor said that the review had several issues which needed to be addressed and “This not about patient pressure”. Dr Tuller reported on the withdrawal decision and the background to the Cochrane review.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2018/10/19/trial-by-error-cochrane-withdraws-flawed-exercise-review/ | title = Trial By Error: Cochrane Withdraws Flawed Exercise Review | website = [[Virology blog]]|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-19 | last = Tuller | first =David | authorlink = David Tuller}}</ref> Forty-one international scientists signed a declaration supporting Cochrane's decision.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2018/10/23/a-statement-in-support-of-cochrane/ | title = A Statement in Support of Cochrane | website = [[Virology blog]]|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>

'''2019'''

A new revision and editorial note were published in October 2019, with significant alterations to the conclusions.<ref name="exercisetherapy2Oct2019" />

In May 2020, Cochrane published a note stating that they were committing to a new review and protocol. Concerning the old review, it said:
:"It now places more emphasis on the limited applicability of the evidence to definitions of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) used in the included studies, the long-term effects of exercise on symptoms of fatigue, and acknowledges the limitations of the evidence about harms that may occur."<ref name="ednote2Oct2019"/>

'''2020'''

In March 2020, Cochrane announced a new conflict of interest policy, due to take effect later in the year.<ref name="newconflictofinterest">https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-announces-revised-conflict-interest-policy-cochrane-library-content</ref >

==Online presence==
*[http://www.cochrane.org/ Website]
*[https://twitter.com/cochranecollab Twitter]
*[https://www.facebook.com/TheCochraneLibrary/ Facebook]
*[http://www.cochranelibrary.com/cochrane-database-of-systematic-reviews/ Cochrane Library]

== See also ==
* [[Exercise]]
* [[Graded exercise therapy]]
* [[Lillebeth Larun]]
* [[Robert Courtney]]
* [[David Tuller]]
* [[Mark Vink]]
* [[PACE trial]]
* [[Psychologization]]
* [[NICE guidelines]]

==Learn more==
*2016, [https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/my-response-to-an-invitation-to-improve-the-cochrane-collaboration-by-challenging-its-policies/ My response to an invitation to improve the Cochrane Collaboration by challenging its policies]<ref name="Coyne2016b"/>
*2016, [https://community.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-and-conflict-interest Cochrane and conflict of interest]<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://community.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-and-conflict-interest | title = Cochrane and conflict of interest | website = community.cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:UK organizations]]

Cochrane

2025-12-09T13:55:09Z

Historycurious:add missing blockquote terminatino

'''Cochrane''' (previously called the '''Cochrane Collaboration''') is an independent, non-profit organization run by volunteers around the world which conducts systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials of health-care interventions and [[:Category:Tests|diagnostic tests]].<ref name="about">{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochrane.org/about-us | title = About us | website = cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> Cochrane reviews are frequently referred to as the gold standard of evidence in medicine and are highly influential in healthcare policy,<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-library-improved-online-platform-guide-health-decision-making-across-world | title = Cochrane Library: an improved online platform to guide health decision-making across the world | website = cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Smith2013">{{Cite journal | last = Smith|first = Richard | date = 2013-12-18 | title = The Cochrane Collaboration at 20 | url = https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7383 | journal = BMJ|language=en | volume = 347 | pages = f7383|doi=10.1136/bmj.f7383|issn=1756-1833|pmid=24353100}}</ref> although recently Cochrane has been criticized for abandoning its core values.<ref name="Ioannidis2019">{{Cite journal | last = Ioannidis | first = John P.A. | date = 2019 | title=Cochrane crisis: Secrecy, intolerance and evidence-based values |url = https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/eci.13058 | journal = European Journal of Clinical Investigation|language=en | volume = 49 | issue = 3| pages = e13058|doi=10.1111/eci.13058|issn=1365-2362}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last = Goldacre | first = Ben | last2 = Vale | first2 = Luke | last3 = Sheriff | first3 = Rebecca Syed | last4 = Ota | first4 = Erika | last5 = Moher | first5 = David | last6 = Kwong | first6 = Joey | last7 = Jayaram | first7 = Mahesh | last8 = Ioannidis | first8 = John PA | last9 = Hoffmann | first9 = Tammy | date = 2018-07-30 | title = Why Cochrane should prioritise sharing data | url = https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3229 | journal = BMJ|language=en | volume = 362 | pages = k3229|doi=10.1136/bmj.k3229|issn=0959-8138|pmid=30061322 | issue = |quote= | authorlink = Ben Goldacre | author-link2 = Luke Vale | author-link3 = Rebecca Sheriff | author-link4 = Erika Ota | author-link5 = Davd Moher|via=}}</ref>

== History ==
The Cochrane Collaboration was founded in 1993 as part of a movement that called for evidence based medicine.<ref name="Cochranehist">{{Cite web | url = https://community.cochrane.org/handbook-sri/chapter-1-introduction/11-cochrane/112-brief-history-cochrane | title = 1.1.2 A brief history of Cochrane | website = community.cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> The name refers to the Scottish doctor Archie Cochrane who advocated the use of randomized control trials to make medicine more efficient.<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Shah|first = Hriday M. | last2 = Chung | first2 = Kevin C. | date = Sep 2009 | title = Archie Cochrane and his vision for evidence-based medicine | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2746659/ | journal = Plastic and reconstructive surgery | volume = 124 | issue = 3 | pages = 982–988|doi=10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181b03928|issn=0032-1052|pmc=2746659|pmid=19730323}}</ref> In origin, Cochrane is a British charity. It arose from the ground-breaking work of Iain Chalmers and colleagues who, in the late 1980s, created a database of systematic reviews on effective care in pregnancy and childbirth.<ref name="Cochranehist" /> This idea of forming a library of reliable and systematic reviews on clinical interventions was extended to other fields of medicine and became the basis of The Cochrane collaboration.<ref name="Chalmers1993">{{Cite journal | last = Chalmers | first = I. | date = 1993-12-31 | title = The Cochrane collaboration: preparing, maintaining, and disseminating systematic reviews of the effects of health care | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8192293 | journal = Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | volume = 703 | pages = 156–163; discussion 163–165|issn=0077-8923|pmid=8192293}}</ref>

Over the years, Cochrane has developed into an internationally renowned institute. At the celebration of its 20 years existence, it had more than 31,000 contributors from 120 countries and has published more than 5000 systematic reviews.<ref name="Smith2013" /><ref name="nature2013">{{Cite web | url = https://www.nature.com/articles/6400907.pdf?origin=ppub | last = Richards | first =D. | date = 2013 | title = 20 years of the Cochrane Collaboration | journal = Nature}}</ref>, although some require a paid subscription or registration before reading.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/help/access | title = Cochrane Library access options | website = Cochrane Library|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>

==Chronic fatigue syndrome==
Cochrane lists [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] (CFS) under its "neurology" and "mental health" categories<ref name="CochraneCFS" /> and its chronic fatigue syndrome reviews are produced by its "Common Mental Disorders Group".<ref name="CochraneCFS">{{Cite web | url = https://cmd.cochrane.org/scope-our-work | title = Scope of our work|language=en|access-date=2019-10-02 | date = | website = | last = Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group|first = | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=}}</ref>

==Exercise therapy in CFS review==
The Cochrane review on [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapy]] (graded exercise therapy) in [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] has frequently been cited as a justification for this controversial intervention in patients with ME/CFS.<ref name="mrc2018">{{Cite web | url = https://mrc.ukri.org/news/browse/criticism-of-the-pace-trial/ | title = Criticism of the PACE trial | last = Medical Research Council|first = | date = 2018-08-28 | website = mrc.ukri.org|language=en|access-date=2019-03-05 | authorlink = Medical Research Council|archive-date=|url-status=}}</ref><ref name="Barry2017">{{Cite journal | last = Barry|first = Benjamin K. | last2 = Lloyd | first2 = Andrew R. | last3 = Bogg | first3 = Tina | last4 = Cassar | first4 = Joanne | last5 = Casson | first5 = Sally M. | last6 = Sandler | first6 = Carolina X. | last7 = Li | first7 = Sophie H. | date = 2017-05-01 | title = Randomised controlled trial of online continuing education for health professionals to improve the management of chronic fatigue syndrome: a study protocol | url = https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/5/e014133 | journal = BMJ Open|language=en | volume = 7 | issue = 5| pages = e014133|doi=10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014133|issn=2044-6055|pmid=28495811}}</ref> The review, however, has been criticized for having methodological flaws,<ref name="vink2018">{{Cite journal | last = Vink|first = Mark | last2 = Vink-Niese | first2 = Alexandra | date = Jul 2018 | title = Graded exercise therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective and unsafe. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30305916 | journal = Health Psychology Open | volume = 5 | issue = 2 | pages = 2055102918805187|doi=10.1177/2055102918805187|issn=2055-1029|pmc=|pmid=30305916|quote= | authorlink = Mark Vink | author-link2 = Alexandra Vink-Niese|via=}}</ref> and a formal complaint by a patient outlined significant flaws, leading to further revisions.<ref name="CourtneyComplaint" /> Cochrane revised the exercise therapy for CFS review six times since 2015, publishing a final version with altered conclusions in October 2019.<ref name="exercisetherapy2Oct2019" /> Cochrane stated that the review is "substantially out of date and in need of updating."<ref name="Cochrane2019Note">{{Cite web | last = | first = | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/content?templateType=information&urlTitle=/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8&doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8&type=cdsr&contentLanguage= | website = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome {{!}} Information | date = Oct 2, 2019|access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref> On May 21, 2020, Cochrane made a new announcement committing to a full review:
<blockquote>"In the last nine months, this Cochrane Review has been modified by the review’s authors and evaluated by independent peer reviewers and editors. It now places more emphasis on the limited applicability of the evidence to definitions of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) used in the included studies, the long-term effects of exercise on symptoms of fatigue, and acknowledges the limitations of the evidence about harms that may occur... 
[T]oday we are committing to the production of a full update of this Cochrane Review, beginning with a comprehensive review of the protocol, which will be developed in consultation with an independent advisory group that we intend to convene."<ref name="ednote2Oct2019"/></blockquote>

==Chronic fatigue syndrome publications ==
Cochrane has published several reviews assessing treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome:
* 2008, [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001027.pub2/abstract Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults]<ref name="Cochrane2008">{{Cite journal | last = Price | first = Jonathan R. | authorlink = Jonathan Price | last2 = Mitchell | first2 = Edward | author-link2 = Edward Mitchell | last3 = Tidy | first3 = Elizabeth | author-link3 = Elizabeth Tidy | last4 = Hunot | first4 = Vivien | author-link4 = Vivien Hunot | date = 2008 | title = Cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome in adults |url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001027.pub2/abstract | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | issue = 3|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001027.pub2|issn=1465-1858 | pages = |quote=|via= | volume = }}</ref><ref name="Cochrane2014">{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | last2 = Odgaard‐Jensen | first2 = Jan | author-link2 = Jan Odgaard‐Jensen | last3 = Brurberg | first3 = Kjetil G. | author-link3 = Kjetil Brurberg | last4 = Chalder | first4 = Trudie | author-link4 = Trudie Chalder | last5 = Dybwad | first5 = Marianne | author-link5 = Marianne Dybwad | last6 = Moss‐Morris | first6 = Rona E. | author-link6 = Rona Moss-Morris|last7 = Sharpe | first7 = Michael | author-link8 = Michael Sharpe | last8 = Wallman | first8 = Karen | author-link8 = Karen Wallman | first9 = Alison | last9 = Wearden |author-link9 = Alison Wearden | last10 = White | first10 = Peter | author-link10 = Peter White | last11 = Glasziou | first11 = Paul P | author-link11 = Paul Glasziou| date = 2014 | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome (individual patient data) | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011040/abstract | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | volume = | issue = 4 | pages = CD011040 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD011040|issn=1465-1858|pmc = PMC6494520 | quote=|via=}}</ref>
* 2014, [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011040/abstract Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome (individual patient data)]<ref name="Cochrane2014" /> - withdrawn as protocol no longer being progressed to a review<ref name=Cochranewithdrawndata> https://www.cochranelibrary.com/content?templateType=full&urlTitle=/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011040.pub2&doi=10.1002/14651858.CD011040.pub2&type=cdsr&contentLanguage=</ref>

*2016, [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub4/full Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome]<ref name="Cochrane2016">{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | last2 = Brurberg | first2 = Kjetil G. | last3 = Odgaard‐Jensen | first3 = Jan | last4 = Price | first4 = Jonathan R. | date = 2016 | title=Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub4/abstract | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en | issue = 2|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub4|issn=1465-1858 | pages = |quote= | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | author-link2 = Kjetil Brurberg | author-link3 = Jan Odgaard-Jensen | author-link4 = Jonathan Price|via= | volume = }}</ref>

* 2017, [https://www.cochrane.org/CD003200/DEPRESSN_exercise-treatment-patients-chronic-fatigue-syndrome Exercise as treatment for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome]<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | last2 = Brurberg | first2 = Kjetil G. | last3 = Odgaard-Jensen | first3 = Jan | last4 = Price | first4 = Jonathan R | date = 2017-04-25 | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://www.cochrane.org/CD003200/DEPRESSN_exercise-treatment-patients-chronic-fatigue-syndrome | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub7|issn=1465-1858 | issue = | pages = |quote= | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | author-link2 = Kjetil Brurberg | author-link3 = Jan Odgaard-Jensen | author-link4 = Jonathan Price|via= | volume = }}</ref>
** [https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-chronicfatigue-dispute/exclusive-science-journal-to-withdraw-chronic-fatigue-review-amid-patient-activist-complaints-idINKCN1MR2PI Exclusive: Science journal to withdraw chronic fatigue review amid patient activist complaints]<ref name="reuters2018">{{Cite news |url = https://in.reuters.com/article/us-health-chronicfatigue-dispute/exclusive-science-journal-to-withdraw-chronic-fatigue-review-amid-patient-activist-complaints-idINKCN1MR2PI | title = Exclusive: Science journal to withdraw chronic fatigue review amid... | last = Kelland | first = Kate | date = Oct 17, 2018|work=IN|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en}}</ref>
*2019, [https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8/full Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome]<ref name="exercisetherapy2Oct2019">{{Cite journal | last = Larun | first = Lillebeth | authorlink = Lillebeth Larun | last2 = Brurberg | first2 = Kjetil G | author-link2 = Kjetil Brurberg | last3 = Odgaard-Jensen | first3 = Jan | author-link3 = Jan Odgaard-Jensen | last4 = Price | first4 = Jonathan R | author-link4 = | date = 2019-10-02 | title = Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8 | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = | issue = | pages = |doi=10.1002/14651858.cd003200.pub8|issn=1465-1858|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=Oct 2, 2019|quote=|via=}}</ref>
**[https://www.cochrane.org/news/publication-cochrane-review-exercise-therapy-chronic-fatigue-syndrome '''Editorial note:''' Publication of Cochrane Review: ‘Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome’]<ref name="ednote2Oct2019">{{Cite web | url = https://www.cochrane.org/news/publication-cochrane-review-exercise-therapy-chronic-fatigue-syndrome | title = Publication of Cochrane Review: ‘Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome’ | last = | first = | authorlink = | date = Oct 2, 2019 | website = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2019-10-02}}</ref>

=== Other withdrawn pages ===
* [https://www.cochrane.org/CD006348/DEPRESSN_traditional-chinese-medicinal-herbs-chronic-fatigue Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic fatigue]<ref>{{Cite journal | last = Adams | first = Denise | last2 = Wu | first2 = Taixiang | last3 = Yang | first3 = Xunzhe | last4 = Tai | first4 = Shusheng | last5 = Vohra | first5 = Sunita | date = 2018-10-15 | title = Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of idiopathic chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome | url = https://www.cochrane.org/CD006348/DEPRESSN_traditional-chinese-medicinal-herbs-chronic-fatigue | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|language=en|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006348.pub3|issn=1465-1858}}</ref> (''Health topics'' noted CFS under "Mental health".)

==Criticism and commentary on Cochrane CFS reviews ==
=== Formal complaint to Dr. David Tovey, Editor in Chief of the Cochrane Library ===
* Feb 12, 2018, [https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhy95caezsmcue7/Robert%20Courtney%20Cochrane%20complaint(1).zip?dl=0&file_subpath=%2FRobert+Courtney+Cochrane+complaint.pdf This is a formal complaint with respect to the current version of "Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome" by L. Larun et al. (Cochrane Database Syste Rev. 2017; CD003200.)]<ref name="CourtneyComplaint">{{Cite web | url = https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhy95caezsmcue7/Robert%20Courtney%20Cochrane%20complaint(1).zip?dl=0&file_subpath=%2FRobert+Courtney+Cochrane+complaint.pdf | title=This is a formal complaint with respect to the current version of "Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome" by L. Larun et al. (Cochrane Database Syste Rev. 2017; CD003200.) | last = Courtney|first =Robert | authorlink = Robert Courtney | date = Feb 12, 2018}}</ref>

==Criticism & Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest==
'''2016'''

Professor [[James Coyne]] has criticized Cochrane's work assessing exercise as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, asking it "to consider the implications of having authors conduct a systematic review with the Cochrane collaboration brand attached who have ties to an industry which would benefit from particular conclusions. These same conclusions would personally enrich some of the authors professionally and personally", referring to the involvement of [[Trudie Chalder]], [[Rona Moss-Morris]], [[Michael Sharpe]], [[Alison Wearden]] and [[Peter White]] who are also authors of the [[PACE trial]].<ref name="Coyne20160105">{{citation | last =Coyne | first1 = James | author-link1 = James Coyne | title = Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms
| website=Quick Thoughts blog | date = Jan 5, 2016 | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-a-systematic-review-protocol-of-interventions-for-medically-unexplained-symptoms/ }}</ref><ref name="Coyne20160320">{{citation | last =Coyne | first1 = James | author-link1 = James Coyne | title = Why the Cochrane Collaboration needs to clean up conflicts of interest
| website=Quick Thoughts blog | date = Mar 20, 2016 | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/why-the-cochrane-collaboration-needs-to-clean-up-conflicts-of-interest/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/04/23/probing-an-untrustworthy-cochrane-review-of-exercise-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/ | title = Probing an untrustworthy Cochrane review of exercise for “chronic fatigue syndrome” | last = Coyne | first = James | date = 2016-04-23|work=Quick Thoughts|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-US}}</ref>

Prof. Coyne also wrote an open letter to Cochrane in March 2016 regarding the upcoming Cochrane review and conflicts of interests.<ref name="Coyne2016a">{{Cite web | url = https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/blogs/news/an-open-letter-to-the-cochrane-collaboration-bill-silverman-lies-a-moldering-in-his-grave | title = An open letter to the Cochrane Collaboration: Bill Silverman lies a-moldering-in his grave – Coyne of the Realm | last = Coyne | first = James | date = Mar 6, 2016 | website = Coyne of the Realm|language=en| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2018-10-17}} </ref><ref name="Coyne2016b">{{Cite news |url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/my-response-to-an-invitation-to-improve-the-cochrane-collaboration-by-challenging-its-policies/ | title = My response to an invitation to improve the Cochrane Collaboration by challenging its policies | last = Coyne | first = James | date = 2016-04-21|work=Quick Thoughts|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2016, the 2014 Cochrane Intervention Protocol was modified to include previously undisclosed conflicts of interest for Peter White: "PDW has undertaken consultancy work for a re-insurance firm. He has also undertaken voluntary consultancy for the [[Department for Work and Pensions|Departments of Health, Work and Pensions]] and is a member of the Independent Medical Experts Group, a non-Governmental organization which advises the Ministry of Defense regarding their Armed Forces Compensation Fund."<ref name="Coyne20160319">{{citation | last =Coyne | first1 = James | author-link1 = James Coyne | title = Update to: Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms
| website = Quick Thoughts Blog | date = Mar 19, 2016 | url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-a-systematic-review-protocol-of-interventions-for-medically-unexplained-symptoms/ }}</ref>

It was admitted in the information tribunal of April 2016 on page 31 that "Professor Chalder states that disclosure to the Cochrane review does not count as disclosure to independent scientists as all three of the [[PACE Trial Management Group|PACE]] principal investigators sat on the review panel."<ref name="QMUL-appeal">{{Cite web | url = http://informationrights.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk//DBFiles/Decision/i1854/Queen%20Mary%20University%20of%20London%20EA-2015-0269%20(12-8-16).PDF | title = Appeal Number: EA/2015/0269, Appellant: Queen Mary University of London, Respondent: The Information Commissioner, Second Respondent: Alem Matthees | last = | first = | date = Apr 22, 2016 | website = tribunals.gov.uk| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=}}</ref>

'''2017'''

On April 14, 2017 Prof James Coyne submitted a very early request for the data to Cochrane along with an open letter.<ref name="Coyne2017">{{Cite news |url = https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/why-i-am-formally-requesting-the-data-set-from-a-cochrane-review/ | title = Why I am formally requesting the data set from a Cochrane review | last = Coyne | first = James | date = 2017-04-13|work=Quick Thoughts|access-date=2018-10-17| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | language=en-US}} </ref>

A liaison psychiatrist publishing in the ''British Journal of Psychiatry'' has criticized the '[[Graded exercise therapy|Exercise Therapy]] for CFS' for being heavily influenced by the PACE trial.<ref name="MEA2017Cochrane">{{Cite web | url = http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2017/05/liaison-psychiatrist-suggests-that-cochrane-review-on-exercise-therapy-in-cfs-was-heavily-influenced-by-controversial-pace-trial-6-may-2017/ | title = Liaison psychiatrist says that Cochrane Review on exercise therapy in CFS was heavily influenced by controversial PACE Trial {{!}} 6 May 2017 | last = | first = | date = May 6, 2017 | website = [[The ME Association]]| publisher = The British Journal of Psychology|language=en-US| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2018-10-17 | authorlink = }}</ref><ref name="Mitchell2017">{{Cite journal | last = Mitchell|first = Alex J. | authorlink = | date = May 2017 | title = Controversy over exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome: Key lessons for clinicians and academics: Commentary on… Cochrane Corner |url =https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-advances/article/controversy-over-exercise-therapy-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-key-lessons-for-clinicians-and-academics/31FAABA6A2C20FDAA4766C6D37E9614C | journal = BJPsych Advances|language=en | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 145–148|doi=10.1192/apt.bp.116.016261|issn=2056-4678|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref>

According to Coyne, one of the authors of the controversial Cochrane Exercise therapy review, [[Kjetil Brurberg|Kjetil Gundro Brurberg]], misrepresented the conflicts of interest of himself and his reviewers regarding his article '''A PACE-gate or an editorial without perspectives''' after being given a number of opportunities to do so. This was an article he was invited to publish in the [[Journal of Health Psychology]], and Coyne describes Brurberg's actions as "scientific misconduct".<ref name="Brurberg">{{Cite web | url= https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/07/19/misconduct-in-an-authors-nomination-of-reviewers-for-his-manuscript/ | title = Misconduct in an author's nomination of reviewers for his manuscript | last = Coyne | first = James | authorlink = James Coyne | date = Jul 19, 2017 | website = coyneoftherealm.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602171046/https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/07/19/misconduct-in-an-authors-nomination-of-reviewers-for-his-manuscript/|archive-date=Jun 2, 2020|url-status=|access-date=}}</ref> According to Coyne, Brurberg had been invited to publish about the [[PACE trial]] by the Journal of Health Psychology but his manuscript was rejected after a negative peer review. Coyne states Brurberg appealed he was given opportunity to nominate reviewers without conflicts of interest, but two had clear conflicts of interest and a third reviewer responsed declaring a conflict of interest - that Michael Sharpe (second author of the PACE trial) had previously been his supervisor; Brurberg's article was rejected and then published in the '''Mental Elf''' website.<ref name="Brurberg" />

'''2018'''

On September 3, 2018, Dr [[David Tuller]] examined in 'The Cochrane Controversy' the systematic reviews which relied upon the flawed PACE trial and associated [[Cognitive behavioral therapy|CBT]]/[[Graded exercise therapy|GET]] studies and even its wrongful categorization in the Common Mental Disorders group.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2018/09/03/trial-by-error-the-cochrane-controversy/ | title = Trial By Error: The Cochrane Controversy | last = Tuller | first = David | date = Sep 3, 2018 | website = [[Virology blog]]|language=en-US| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | access-date=2018-10-17 | authorlink = David Tuller}}</ref>

On September 14, 2018 the Cochrane Collaboration had a mass resignation of its board after it decided to expel a founding member who had written a review which stated that "‘The Cochrane HPV vaccine review was incomplete and ignored important evidence of bias’ and published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine".<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://davidfmarks.com/2018/09/27/is-cochrane-sunk/ | title = Cochrane Catastrophe | date = 2018-09-27|work=davidfmarks.com|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en-US | last = Marks | first = David F.|quote= | authorlink = David Marks| archive-url = | archive-date = |url-status = | publisher=}}</ref>

October 8, 2018, [[Mark Vink]] and Alexandra Vink-Niese reanalyzed the Cochrane's review of GET for ME/CFS concluding there is no evidence GET is effective and "failure to report harms adequately in the trials covered by the review, it cannot be said that graded exercise therapy is safe."<ref name="Vink2018">{{Cite journal | last = Vink|first = Mark | last2 = Vink-Niese | first2 = Alexandra | date = 2018 | title = Graded exercise therapy for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is not effective and unsafe. Re-analysis of a Cochrane review | url = http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2055102918805187 | journal = Health Psychology Open|language=en | volume = 5 | issue = 2 | pages = 205510291880518|doi=10.1177/2055102918805187|issn=2055-1029|pmc=|pmid=30305916|via=}}</ref> Their reanalysis also stated that all four Cochrane reviewers were proponents of the [[Biopsychosocial model|biopsychosocial]] model.<ref name="Vink2018" />

On October 17, 2018 it was announced that Cochrane would be temporarily withdrawing its exercise therapy for CFS review from the Cochrane Library.<ref name="reuters2018" /> The Cochrane Editor said that the review had several issues which needed to be addressed and “This not about patient pressure”. Dr Tuller reported on the withdrawal decision and the background to the Cochrane review.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2018/10/19/trial-by-error-cochrane-withdraws-flawed-exercise-review/ | title = Trial By Error: Cochrane Withdraws Flawed Exercise Review | website = [[Virology blog]]|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-19 | last = Tuller | first =David | authorlink = David Tuller}}</ref> Forty-one international scientists signed a declaration supporting Cochrane's decision.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2018/10/23/a-statement-in-support-of-cochrane/ | title = A Statement in Support of Cochrane | website = [[Virology blog]]|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>

'''2019'''

A new revision and editorial note were published in October 2019, with significant alterations to the conclusions.<ref name="exercisetherapy2Oct2019" />

In May 2020, Cochrane published a note stating that they were committing to a new review and protocol. Concerning the old review, it said:
:"It now places more emphasis on the limited applicability of the evidence to definitions of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) used in the included studies, the long-term effects of exercise on symptoms of fatigue, and acknowledges the limitations of the evidence about harms that may occur."<ref name="ednote2Oct2019"/>

'''2020'''

In March 2020, Cochrane announced a new conflict of interest policy, due to take effect later in the year.<ref name="newconflictofinterest">https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-announces-revised-conflict-interest-policy-cochrane-library-content</ref >

==Online presence==
*[http://www.cochrane.org/ Website]
*[https://twitter.com/cochranecollab Twitter]
*[https://www.facebook.com/TheCochraneLibrary/ Facebook]
*[http://www.cochranelibrary.com/cochrane-database-of-systematic-reviews/ Cochrane Library]

== See also ==
* [[Exercise]]
* [[Graded exercise therapy]]
* [[Lillebeth Larun]]
* [[Robert Courtney]]
* [[David Tuller]]
* [[Mark Vink]]
* [[PACE trial]]
* [[Psychologization]]
* [[NICE guidelines]]

==Learn more==
*2016, [https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/my-response-to-an-invitation-to-improve-the-cochrane-collaboration-by-challenging-its-policies/ My response to an invitation to improve the Cochrane Collaboration by challenging its policies]<ref name="Coyne2016b"/>
*2016, [https://community.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-and-conflict-interest Cochrane and conflict of interest]<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://community.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-and-conflict-interest | title = Cochrane and conflict of interest | website = community.cochrane.org|language=en|access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:UK organizations]]

Paul Garner

2025-12-09T13:42:51Z

Historycurious:wording improvement

{{NeedsImage}}
Professor '''Paul Garner''' is co-ordinator of the Centre for Evidence Synthesis for Global Health, co-ordinating editor of the [[Cochrane]] Infectious Diseases Group and director of the Research, Evidence and Development Initiative (READ-It) at the Liverpool School for Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in Liverpool, [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref name="website">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-paul-garner | title = Professor Paul Garner|website=LSTM|language=en|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref> He is on the board of trustees of [[Sense About Science]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://senseaboutscience.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/|title=Sense About Science Board of Trustees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103230218/https://senseaboutscience.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/|archive-date=January 3, 2025|access-date=December 9, 2025}}</ref>

==Long COVID==
Professor Paul Garner contracted [[COVID-19]] in March 2020, suffered symptoms for many months but has now fully recovered. Professor Garner has reported extensively on his experience of living [[long COVID]] in both the media and in the widely-read [[the BMJ]] journal blog.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/ | date = 2020-06-23 | title = Covid-19 at 14 weeks—phantom speed cameras, unknown limits, and harsh penalties | first = Paul | last = Garner|website=[[The BMJ]]|language=en|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref>

Garner has co-authored a number of articles with [[Wessely school|Wessely School]] psychiatrists<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Anomalies in the review process and interpretation of the evidence in the NICE guideline for chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis|date=2023-07-10|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37434321/|journal=Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry|volume=94|issue=12|pages=1056–1063|last=White|first=Peter|last2=Abbey|first2=Susan|last3=Angus|first3=Brian|last4=Ball|first4=Harriet A|last5=Buchwald|first5=Dedra S|last6=Burness|first6=Christine|last7=Carson|first7=Alan J|last8=Chalder|first8=Trudie|last9=Clauw|first9=Daniel J|last10=Coebergh|first10=Jan|last11=David|first11=Anthony S|language=en|doi=10.1136/jnnp-2022-330463|issn=0022-3050}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope and expert multidisciplinary care|date=May 14, 2025|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r977|journal=BMJ|volume=389|issue=r977|last=Miller|first=Alastair|last2=Symington|first2=Fiona|last3=Garner|first3=Paul|last4=Pederson|first4=Maria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/11/long-covid-and-graded-exercise-therapy|title=Long Covid and graded exercise therapy {{!}} Letter|date=2021-03-11|work=the Guardian|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en}}</ref> promoting the [[biopsychosocial model]] of ME which have received substantial criticism saying they promote unsubstantiated and unscientific claims about the disease.

Excerpt from a BMJ rapid response to one of the pieces Garner co-authored:<blockquote>Miller et al continue to promote the unsubstantiated claims that ME/CFS is deeply rooted in psychosomatic aetiology and occurs due to a combination of deconditioning and “unhelpful illness beliefs.” They argue that “the patients’ belief that they won’t recover can harm their mental wellbeing.” These assertions lack credible scientific basis, contradict current NICE guidelines, and risk causing further harm to people with ME/CFS. When clinicians believe that severe ME/CFS stems from “unhelpful illness beliefs,” lifesaving interventions may be withheld, on the basis that they “reinforce” these beliefs in patients. The withholding of lifesaving care is not a theoretical concern: it is a documented, devastating outcome of misapplying psychosomatic models to a serious organic illness<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Rapid Response: Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope in the form of evidence-based interventions, not opinions.|date=May 20, 2025|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r977/rr-16|journal=BMJ|last=Putrino|first=David|last2=Kane|first2=Binita|last3=Blitshteyn|first3=Svetlana|last4=Asad Khan|first4=M|last5=O'Rourke|first5=Meghan|last6=Buonsenso|first6=Danilo|last7=Ewing|first7=Andrew|last8=Joffe|first8=David|last9=Galland|first9=Leo}}</ref></blockquote>

==Cochrane ==
Professor Garner help setup [[Cochrane]] and is the co-ordinating editor of the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group.<ref name="website" />

==Talks and interviews==

==Blogs==
Paul Garner is currently blogging about his experience of living with [[long COVID]] at [[the BMJ]] website.
* May 5, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/05/paul-garner-people-who-have-a-more-protracted-illness-need-help-to-understand-and-cope-with-the-constantly-shifting-bizarre-symptoms/ For 7 weeks I have been through a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion] - The BMJ
* May 19, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/19/paul-garner-covid-19-and-fatigue-a-game-of-snakes-and-ladders/ Covid-19 and fatigue—a game of snakes and ladders] - The BMJ
* Jun 23, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/ Covid-19 at 14 weeks—phantom speed cameras, unknown limits, and harsh penalties] - The BMJ
* Sep 4, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/04/paul-garner-on-long-haul-covid-19-dont-try-and-dominate-this-virus-accommodate-it/ Paul Garner on long haul covid-19—Don’t try to dominate this virus, accommodate it] - The BMJ
* Jan 24, 2021, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/25/paul-garner-on-his-recovery-from-long-covid/ Paul Garner: on his recovery from long covid] - The BMJ

==Online presence==
*[https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0607-6941 ORCID]
*PubMed
*[https://www.twitter.com/paulgarnerwoof Twitter]
*Facebook
*Website
*YouTube
*[https://cidg.cochrane.org/news/co-ordinating-editor-paul-garner-discusses-his-experience-having-covid-19 List of COVID-19 and long covid features by Paul Gardner - Cochrane]

==See also==
*[[Long COVID]]
*[[Post-COVID-19 illness]]
*[[COVID-19]]

==Learn more==
*[https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-paul-garner Institution]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:People with long COVID]]
[[Category:Advocates or allies]]
[[Category:British advocates or allies]]

The BMJ

2025-12-09T13:35:32Z

Historycurious:Adds a number of sources and quotes on the BMJ's history of bias toward the BPS model

'''The BMJ''' (previously the British Medical Journal) is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal.

[[File:TBMJcover4Wiki.jpg|upright|border|thumb|Cover image of The BMJ weekly print edition]]

==Peer review controversy==
An early version of the PACE reanalysis paper by [[Carolyn Wilshire]] et al was submitted to The BMJ and received two peer reviews,<ref name="Post on Science for ME">https://www.s4me.info/threads/michael-sharpe-skewered-by-johnthejack-on-twitter.3464/page-88#post-84643</ref> one which recommended publication, the other being described by Prof [[James Coyne]] as "patently unprofessional"<ref>https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2017/05/11/patients-writing-about-their-health-condition-were-abused-by-a-peer-reviewer-and-silenced-by-bmj/</ref>.

This second review can be viewed in its entirety both on Coyne's blog and on the [[Science for ME]] forum.<ref name="Post on Science for ME" /> As part of his blog on the review, Coyne highlights a number of noteworthy points in it, including that:
*The reviewer notes that the paper is billed as a collaboration between patients and scientists, but questions whether any of the authors qualify as “clinicians” or “scientists.”
*The reviewer expresses doubts that the patients meet criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.
*The reviewer reiterates the doubt the patients meet criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome and suggests that they were erroneously self-diagnosed.
*The reviewer suggests that the authors were erroneously self-diagnosed and went doctor-shopping until they found agreement.
*After earlier mentioning that he had not obtained the author’s published review, he questions whether it is a major review.

Additionally a comment on Coyne's blog on the review from the blogger Neuroskeptic says, "This is a bizarre, arrogant and unprofessional review. I say this as someone who has called PACE “solid” and “not ‘bad science'”. Wherever you stand on the issues here, this review is just shocking. Shame on the reviewer."

Professor [[Jonathan Edwards]], posting on the [[Science for ME]] forums, called for an apology from the BMJ, stating that he felt that the "reviewer and the journal have made complete fools of themselves".<ref>https://www.s4me.info/threads/bmj-peer-review-of-wilshire-et-al-re-analysis-of-pace-paper.4737/page-2#post-85800</ref>

The reanalysis was later submitted to and published by BMC Psychology.<ref>https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-018-0218-3</ref>

==Alleged bias==
Melvin Ramsay (1989):<blockquote>For many months we have been in difficulty by the influence exerted by a psychiatrist, Dr. Simon Wessly [sic] who has secured for himself the position of referee to the BMJ whose Assistant Editor has been strongly anti-ME and we cannot get anything published in British medical journals in our favor. Simon Wessly cuts right across my fundamental tenet of “rest” for chronic M.E. cases and tries to get them admitted to Psychiatric Units where they are immediately put on vigorous exercise.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://virology.ws/2025/05/24/trial-by-error-more-on-the-bmj-opinion-piece-from-the-psychobabblers/|title=Trial By Error: More on the BMJ Opinion Piece from the Psychobabblers {{!}} Virology Blog|date=2025-05-24|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>[[Ellen Goudsmit]] wrote a paper detailing her accusation that the British Medical Journal had displayed bias towards the psychological model of ME/CFS (2011).<blockquote>Given the findings, our knowledge of papers which have been rejected, plus the fact that between 1995-2000, only one study was published clearly linking CFS with a non-psychological aetiology, there remains little doubt that the editorial policy of the BMJ is uncritically supportive of the psychiatric view of CFS. This has seriously compromised the quality of information provided on CFS to the readers of the BMJ. Moreover, our analysis shows that the journal has consistently ignored non-psychiatric professional views on CFS. Based on our knowledge of this illness, we are unable to find sufficient scientific reason to justify this stance.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Chronic Fatigue SyndromeEditorial Bias in the British Medical Journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262835660_Chronic_Fatigue_SyndromeEditorial_Bias_in_the_British_Medical_Journal|journal=Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome|volume=12|issue=4|last=Goudsmit|first=Ellen|last2=Stouten|first2=Bart}}</ref></blockquote>David Tuller on Virology Blog (2020):<blockquote>In multiple interactions with Virology Blog over the past few years, BMJ has demonstrated a singular lack of editorial integrity. This has been most apparent in the egregious handling of the 2017 study of the Lightning Process as a treatment for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome, conducted by Professor Esther Crawley, Bristol University’s ethically and methodologically challenged pediatrician. (As a reminder, the Lightning Process was created by British Tarot reader and aura specialist Phil Parker.)

In that study, as Virology Blog documented almost three years ago, Professor Crawley and her colleagues recruited more than half the participants before trial registration; swapped primary and secondary outcome measures based on early data, thus being able to report positive rather than null results; and failed to disclose these actions in the published paper. Rather than retracting the paper for violating core principles of scientific research, BMJ rewarded the investigators for their misbehavior last summer by republishing the original findings–albeit with a 3,000-word correction/clarification and a 1,000-word editor’s note justifying the unjustifiable decision to leave the paper in the medical literature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://virology.ws/2020/09/10/trial-by-error-some-stuff-about-long-covid-bmj-and-me/|title=Trial By Error: Some Stuff about Long-Covid, BMJ and ME {{!}} Virology Blog|website=virology.ws|access-date=2025-12-09}}</ref></blockquote>Margaret Williams (2025) (emphasis added):<blockquote>After the publication of the English Chief Medical Officer’s Report on ME/CFS, the CMO himself, Sir Liam Donaldson, went on public record on BBC News on 11th January 2002 stating that treatment must improve and that it should be classed as a chronic condition with long-term effects on health, alongside other illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

Wessely School psychiatrists disagreed: the week after the CMO made his announcement, '''the British Medical Journal highlighted psychiatrist Michael Sharpe’s pronouncement that doctors would not accept a particular strategy just because the CMO’s Report recommended it''' (BMJ:2002:324:131).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.margaretwilliams.me/2025/wesselys-words-of-wisdom.pdf|title=Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: Are Wessely's Words of Wisdom Superior to Science?

The On-going Effects of the Role of Regius Professor Sir Simon Wessely in the Perception of ME|last=Williams|first=Margaret|website=Articles on ME/CFS by Professor Malcolm Hooper and Margaret Williams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250712232341/https://www.margaretwilliams.me/2025/wesselys-words-of-wisdom.pdf|archive-date=July 12, 2025}}</ref></blockquote>David Tuller on Virology Blog (2025):<blockquote>The BMJ...is a long-time champion of the “biopsychosocial” ideological brigades. (I use the “scare quotes” because the term is a misnomer, given that these experts focus pretty much exclusively on the “psycho” and “social” while largely ignoring the “bio” part of the equation.) So it should not surprise anyone that ''The BMJ'' recently published yet another ignorant and misguided screed from this crew—a commissioned opinion piece titled ''“Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope and expert multidisciplinary care,”'' from Miller et al.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

==Notable articles==
*1978, [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1604957/pdf/brmedj00128-0006b.pdf Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis]
*2004, [http://www.bmj.com/content/329/7472/928 What causes chronic fatigue syndrome?] (21 October)
*2011, [http://www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/187262/5 Living with CFS/ME, by patient Ollie Cornes]
*2011, [http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3780 Dangers of research into chronic fatigue syndrome] (Nigel Hawkes, June 22)
*2011, [http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3956 Ending the stalemate] (Fiona Godlee, editor, June)

==Notable podcasts==
*2010, [https://soundcloud.com/bmjpodcasts/chronic-fatigue-syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome]

==Online presence==
*[http://www.bmj.com/ The BMJ web site]
*[https://twitter.com/bmj_latest The BMJ Twitter]
*[https://www.facebook.com/thebmjdotcom/ The BMJ Facebook]

==Learn more==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_BMJ The BMJ]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Journals]]

The BMJ

2025-12-09T13:14:53Z

Historycurious:updated link to working link

Paul Garner

2025-12-09T12:55:36Z

Historycurious:adds quote explanation

{{NeedsImage}}
Professor '''Paul Garner''' is co-ordinator of the Centre for Evidence Synthesis for Global Health, co-ordinating editor of the [[Cochrane]] Infectious Diseases Group and director of the Research, Evidence and Development Initiative (READ-It) at the Liverpool School for Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in Liverpool, [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref name="website">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-paul-garner | title = Professor Paul Garner|website=LSTM|language=en|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref> He is on the board of trustees of [[Sense About Science]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://senseaboutscience.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/|title=Sense About Science Board of Trustees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103230218/https://senseaboutscience.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/|archive-date=January 3, 2025|access-date=December 9, 2025}}</ref>

==Long COVID==
Professor Paul Garner contracted [[COVID-19]] in March 2020, suffered symptoms for many months but has now fully recovered. Professor Garner has reported extensively on his experience of living [[long COVID]] in both the media and in the widely-read [[the BMJ]] journal blog.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/ | date = 2020-06-23 | title = Covid-19 at 14 weeks—phantom speed cameras, unknown limits, and harsh penalties | first = Paul | last = Garner|website=[[The BMJ]]|language=en|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref>

Garner has co-authored a number of articles with [[Wessely school|Wessely School]] psychiatrists<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Anomalies in the review process and interpretation of the evidence in the NICE guideline for chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis|date=2023-07-10|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37434321/|journal=Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry|volume=94|issue=12|pages=1056–1063|last=White|first=Peter|last2=Abbey|first2=Susan|last3=Angus|first3=Brian|last4=Ball|first4=Harriet A|last5=Buchwald|first5=Dedra S|last6=Burness|first6=Christine|last7=Carson|first7=Alan J|last8=Chalder|first8=Trudie|last9=Clauw|first9=Daniel J|last10=Coebergh|first10=Jan|last11=David|first11=Anthony S|language=en|doi=10.1136/jnnp-2022-330463|issn=0022-3050}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope and expert multidisciplinary care|date=May 14, 2025|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r977|journal=BMJ|volume=389|issue=r977|last=Miller|first=Alastair|last2=Symington|first2=Fiona|last3=Garner|first3=Paul|last4=Pederson|first4=Maria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/11/long-covid-and-graded-exercise-therapy|title=Long Covid and graded exercise therapy {{!}} Letter|date=2021-03-11|work=the Guardian|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en}}</ref> promoting the [[biopsychosocial model]] of ME which have received substantial criticism for promoting unsubstantiated and unscientific claims about the disease.

Excerpt from a BMJ rapid response to one of the pieces Garner co-authored:<blockquote>Miller et al continue to promote the unsubstantiated claims that ME/CFS is deeply rooted in psychosomatic aetiology and occurs due to a combination of deconditioning and “unhelpful illness beliefs.” They argue that “the patients’ belief that they won’t recover can harm their mental wellbeing.” These assertions lack credible scientific basis, contradict current NICE guidelines, and risk causing further harm to people with ME/CFS. When clinicians believe that severe ME/CFS stems from “unhelpful illness beliefs,” lifesaving interventions may be withheld, on the basis that they “reinforce” these beliefs in patients. The withholding of lifesaving care is not a theoretical concern: it is a documented, devastating outcome of misapplying psychosomatic models to a serious organic illness<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Rapid Response: Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope in the form of evidence-based interventions, not opinions.|date=May 20, 2025|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r977/rr-16|journal=BMJ|last=Putrino|first=David|last2=Kane|first2=Binita|last3=Blitshteyn|first3=Svetlana|last4=Asad Khan|first4=M|last5=O'Rourke|first5=Meghan|last6=Buonsenso|first6=Danilo|last7=Ewing|first7=Andrew|last8=Joffe|first8=David|last9=Galland|first9=Leo}}</ref></blockquote>

==Cochrane ==
Professor Garner help setup [[Cochrane]] and is the co-ordinating editor of the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group.<ref name="website" />

==Talks and interviews==

==Blogs==
Paul Garner is currently blogging about his experience of living with [[long COVID]] at [[the BMJ]] website.
* May 5, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/05/paul-garner-people-who-have-a-more-protracted-illness-need-help-to-understand-and-cope-with-the-constantly-shifting-bizarre-symptoms/ For 7 weeks I have been through a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion] - The BMJ
* May 19, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/19/paul-garner-covid-19-and-fatigue-a-game-of-snakes-and-ladders/ Covid-19 and fatigue—a game of snakes and ladders] - The BMJ
* Jun 23, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/ Covid-19 at 14 weeks—phantom speed cameras, unknown limits, and harsh penalties] - The BMJ
* Sep 4, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/04/paul-garner-on-long-haul-covid-19-dont-try-and-dominate-this-virus-accommodate-it/ Paul Garner on long haul covid-19—Don’t try to dominate this virus, accommodate it] - The BMJ
* Jan 24, 2021, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/25/paul-garner-on-his-recovery-from-long-covid/ Paul Garner: on his recovery from long covid] - The BMJ

==Online presence==
*[https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0607-6941 ORCID]
*PubMed
*[https://www.twitter.com/paulgarnerwoof Twitter]
*Facebook
*Website
*YouTube
*[https://cidg.cochrane.org/news/co-ordinating-editor-paul-garner-discusses-his-experience-having-covid-19 List of COVID-19 and long covid features by Paul Gardner - Cochrane]

==See also==
*[[Long COVID]]
*[[Post-COVID-19 illness]]
*[[COVID-19]]

==Learn more==
*[https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-paul-garner Institution]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:People with long COVID]]
[[Category:Advocates or allies]]
[[Category:British advocates or allies]]

Paul Garner

2025-12-09T12:53:32Z

Historycurious:adds notes about promotion of BPS model, connection to Sense About Science

{{NeedsImage}}
Professor '''Paul Garner''' is co-ordinator of the Centre for Evidence Synthesis for Global Health, co-ordinating editor of the [[Cochrane]] Infectious Diseases Group and director of the Research, Evidence and Development Initiative (READ-It) at the Liverpool School for Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in Liverpool, [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref name="website">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-paul-garner | title = Professor Paul Garner|website=LSTM|language=en|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref> He is on the board of trustees of [[Sense About Science]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://senseaboutscience.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/|title=Sense About Science Board of Trustees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103230218/https://senseaboutscience.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/|archive-date=January 3, 2025|access-date=December 9, 2025}}</ref>

==Long COVID==
Professor Paul Garner contracted [[COVID-19]] in March 2020, suffered symptoms for many months but has now fully recovered. Professor Garner has reported extensively on his experience of living [[long COVID]] in both the media and in the widely-read [[the BMJ]] journal blog.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/ | date = 2020-06-23 | title = Covid-19 at 14 weeks—phantom speed cameras, unknown limits, and harsh penalties | first = Paul | last = Garner|website=[[The BMJ]]|language=en|access-date=2020-09-19}}</ref>

Garner has co-authored a number of articles with [[Wessely school|Wessely School]] psychiatrists<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Anomalies in the review process and interpretation of the evidence in the NICE guideline for chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis|date=2023-07-10|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37434321/|journal=Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry|volume=94|issue=12|pages=1056–1063|last=White|first=Peter|last2=Abbey|first2=Susan|last3=Angus|first3=Brian|last4=Ball|first4=Harriet A|last5=Buchwald|first5=Dedra S|last6=Burness|first6=Christine|last7=Carson|first7=Alan J|last8=Chalder|first8=Trudie|last9=Clauw|first9=Daniel J|last10=Coebergh|first10=Jan|last11=David|first11=Anthony S|language=en|doi=10.1136/jnnp-2022-330463|issn=0022-3050}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope and expert multidisciplinary care|date=May 14, 2025|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r977|journal=BMJ|volume=389|issue=r977|last=Miller|first=Alastair|last2=Symington|first2=Fiona|last3=Garner|first3=Paul|last4=Pederson|first4=Maria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/11/long-covid-and-graded-exercise-therapy|title=Long Covid and graded exercise therapy {{!}} Letter|date=2021-03-11|work=the Guardian|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en}}</ref> promoting the [[biopsychosocial model]] of ME which have received substantial criticism for promoting unsubstantiated and unscientific claims about the disease.<blockquote>Miller et al continue to promote the unsubstantiated claims that ME/CFS is deeply rooted in psychosomatic aetiology and occurs due to a combination of deconditioning and “unhelpful illness beliefs.” They argue that “the patients’ belief that they won’t recover can harm their mental wellbeing.” These assertions lack credible scientific basis, contradict current NICE guidelines, and risk causing further harm to people with ME/CFS. When clinicians believe that severe ME/CFS stems from “unhelpful illness beliefs,” lifesaving interventions may be withheld, on the basis that they “reinforce” these beliefs in patients. The withholding of lifesaving care is not a theoretical concern: it is a documented, devastating outcome of misapplying psychosomatic models to a serious organic illness<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Rapid Response: Patients with severe ME/CFS need hope in the form of evidence-based interventions, not opinions.|date=May 20, 2025|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/389/bmj.r977/rr-16|journal=BMJ|last=Putrino|first=David|last2=Kane|first2=Binita|last3=Blitshteyn|first3=Svetlana|last4=Asad Khan|first4=M|last5=O'Rourke|first5=Meghan|last6=Buonsenso|first6=Danilo|last7=Ewing|first7=Andrew|last8=Joffe|first8=David|last9=Galland|first9=Leo}}</ref></blockquote>

==Cochrane ==
Professor Garner help setup [[Cochrane]] and is the co-ordinating editor of the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group.<ref name="website" />

==Talks and interviews==

==Blogs==
Paul Garner is currently blogging about his experience of living with [[long COVID]] at [[the BMJ]] website.
* May 5, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/05/paul-garner-people-who-have-a-more-protracted-illness-need-help-to-understand-and-cope-with-the-constantly-shifting-bizarre-symptoms/ For 7 weeks I have been through a roller coaster of ill health, extreme emotions, and utter exhaustion] - The BMJ
* May 19, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/05/19/paul-garner-covid-19-and-fatigue-a-game-of-snakes-and-ladders/ Covid-19 and fatigue—a game of snakes and ladders] - The BMJ
* Jun 23, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/06/23/paul-garner-covid-19-at-14-weeks-phantom-speed-cameras-unknown-limits-and-harsh-penalties/ Covid-19 at 14 weeks—phantom speed cameras, unknown limits, and harsh penalties] - The BMJ
* Sep 4, 2020, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/04/paul-garner-on-long-haul-covid-19-dont-try-and-dominate-this-virus-accommodate-it/ Paul Garner on long haul covid-19—Don’t try to dominate this virus, accommodate it] - The BMJ
* Jan 24, 2021, [https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/25/paul-garner-on-his-recovery-from-long-covid/ Paul Garner: on his recovery from long covid] - The BMJ

==Online presence==
*[https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0607-6941 ORCID]
*PubMed
*[https://www.twitter.com/paulgarnerwoof Twitter]
*Facebook
*Website
*YouTube
*[https://cidg.cochrane.org/news/co-ordinating-editor-paul-garner-discusses-his-experience-having-covid-19 List of COVID-19 and long covid features by Paul Gardner - Cochrane]

==See also==
*[[Long COVID]]
*[[Post-COVID-19 illness]]
*[[COVID-19]]

==Learn more==
*[https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-paul-garner Institution]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:People with long COVID]]
[[Category:Advocates or allies]]
[[Category:British advocates or allies]]

Colin McEvedy

2025-12-09T12:43:19Z

Historycurious:link correction

{{stub}}
{{NeedsImage}}
Dr '''Colin Peter McEvedy''' (1930-2005) was a British consultant psychiatrist McEvedy best known for his research on [[hysteria]], bubonic plague and the history of [[polio]].<ref name="McEvedyBio">{{Cite journal | last = Richmond | first = Caroline | authorlink = | date = Oct 8, 2005 | title = Colin McEvedy | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1246098/ | journal = BMJ : British Medical Journal|volume=331 | issue = 7520 | pages = 847|issn=0959-8138|pmc=1246098|quote=|via=}}</ref>

==Benign myalgic encephalomyelitis controversy ==
In 1970, Colin McEvedy and fellow psychiatrist [[William Beard|A William Beard]] published an influential study of 15 epidemics of [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], then known as ''benign myalgic encephalomyelitis'', concluding that the illness was the result of ''psychosocial phenomena'', and caused by either "[[mass hysteria]] on the part of patients" or "altered medical perception of the community".

The authors reached their conclusions in spite of the fact that "no patient was examined, no history was taken, not even was there any consultation with any of the senior or junior physicians who had been responsible for examining and treating these injured patients"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|title=A new and simple definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a new simple definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & A Brief History of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and an Irreverent History of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome|last=Hyde|first=Byron|authorlink=Byron Hyde|date=May 12, 2006|website=Irish M.E. Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609034420/https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|archive-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>, and justified them in part based on patients being predominantly women, saying, "We believe these epidemiological peculiarities — the predilection for young women and for institutions containing an undue proportion of them — provide good positive evidence for mass hysteria as an explanation of the illness.”<ref name="McEvedy-Beard">{{cite journal | date = | title = Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis |url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ | journal = [[British Medical Journal]]|volume=1 | issue = 5687 | pages = 11–5|doi=10.1136/bmj.1.5687.11|pmc=1700895|pmid=5411596 | last = McEvedy|first = CP|quote= | authorlink = Colin McEvedy | author-link2 = William Beard|via= | last2 = Beard | first2 = AW}}</ref>

Asked years later by [[Byron Hyde|Lord Byron Hyde]], "Why had he written up the Free Hospital epidemics as hysteria without any careful exploration of the basis of his thesis?", McEvedy replied, "It was an easy PhD, why not."<ref name=":0" />

The published paper was covered in Time magazine<ref name=":0" />, and resulted in, "funding [for ME research] from governments and major donors [drying] up and many physicians, perhaps influenced as much by a Time Magazine article as in the British Medical Journal, [turning] their back on this significant illness that was Myalgic Encephalomyelitis."<ref name=":0" />

==Notable studies ==
*1970, Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis<ref name="McEvedy-Beard" /> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ (Full text)]

==See also ==
* [[History of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome]]
* [[William Beard]]
* [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis]]

==Learn more ==
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1246098/ Colin McEvedy (obituary)]

==References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Researchers]]
[[Category:Psychological paradigm proponents]]
[[Category:UK researchers]]

Sense About Science

2025-12-09T12:24:02Z

Historycurious:notes about founder Dick Taverne

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_About_Science Sense About Science] is a charity formed in 2002 with the aim of promoting public understanding.

It was founded by Dick Taverne, who had previously done consulting work for the tobacco industry to help "improve relations with its investors and beat European regulations on cigarettes"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theintercept.com/2016/11/15/how-self-appointed-guardians-of-sound-science-tip-the-scales-toward-industry/|title=How Self-Appointed Guardians of "Sound Science" Tip the Scales Toward Industry|last=Gross|first=Liza|date=2016-11-15|work=The Intercept|access-date=2025-12-09|language=en-US}}</ref>, and who at one point sat on the advisory council for the Science Media Centre<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf|title=Science Media Centre Consultation Report March 2002|date=|website=The Science Media Centre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206154246/https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Science-Media-Centre-consultation-report.pdf|archive-date=February 6, 2025|access-date=December 9, 2002}}</ref>.

==Criticism==
Sense About Science has been criticised by [[Malcolm Hooper]] for being pro-industry and refers to it as the "sister" to the [[Science Media Centre]].<ref>[http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/The-SMC-and-its-campaign-against-MECFS.pdf The Role of the Science Media Centre and the Insurance Industry in ME/CFS: the facts behind the fiction]</ref>

Professor [[Simon Wessely]] previously served on the Sense About Science advisory council.<ref>[http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/advisory-council.html Advisory council]</ref>

==Notable coverage==
*2015, [http://www.senseaboutscience.org/resources.php/214/response-to-headlines-suggesting-me-is-all-in-the-mind Response to headlines suggesting ME 'is all in the mind']
*2015, [http://www.senseaboutscienceusa.org/epistemically-challenged-julie-rehmeyer/ Epistemically Challenged: Julie Rehmeyer]

==John Maddox Prize==
Sense About Science awards the John Maddox Prize annually to scientists who "promote sound science and evidence on a matter of public interest, facing difficulty or hostility in doing so".<ref>[http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/john-maddox-prize.html John Maddox Prize]</ref>. The 2012 award recipient was Professor [[Simon Wessely]].<ref>[http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/2012-maddox-prize.html 2012 John Maddox Prize]</ref>

==Key people==
*[[Tracey Brown]] (director)

==Online presence==
*[http://www.senseaboutscience.org/ Website]
*[https://twitter.com/senseaboutsci Twitter UK]
*[https://twitter.com/SenseScienceUSA Twitter US]
*[https://www.facebook.com/senseaboutscience/ Facebook]

==See also==
*[[Science Media Centre]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Psychological paradigm proponents]]

William Beard

2025-12-09T12:09:46Z

Historycurious:Adds expanded notes on ME paper from McEvedy's page

{{stub}}
{{NeedsImage}}
Dr '''Alfred William Beard''' or '''Bill Beard''' (1930-1991) was a British psychiatrist who studied at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities.<ref name="BMJ1991">{{Cite journal | last = | first = | authorlink = | date = Jun 22, 1991 | title = Obituary: A W Beard | url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1670186/pdf/bmj00131-0063.pdf|journal=BMJ : British Medical Journal|volume=302|issue=6791|pages=1532|issn=0959-8138|pmc=1670186|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/313 | title = Biography: Alfred William Beard | last =Hill | first = OW |authorlink=| date = 1992 | website = [[Royal College of Psychiatrists]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=Apr 24, 2019}}</ref>

==Benign myalgic encephalomyelitis controversy ==
In 1970, with psychiatrist [[Colin McEvedy]], Bill Beard published an influential study of 15 epidemics of [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], then known as ''benign myalgic encephalomyelitis'', concluding that the illness was the result of ''psychosocial phenomena'', and caused by either "[[mass hysteria]] on the part of patients" or "altered medical perception of the community".<ref name="McEvedy-Beard">{{cite journal | date = | title = Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/|journal=[[British Medical Journal]]|volume=1|issue=5687|pages=11–5|doi=10.1136/bmj.1.5687.11|pmc=1700895|pmid=5411596 | last =McEvedy | first = CP|quote= | author-link = Colin McEvedy | author-link2 = William Beard|via = | last2 = Beard | first2=AW}}</ref>

The authors reached their conclusions in spite of the fact that "no patient was examined, no history was taken, not even was there any consultation with any of the senior or junior physicians who had been responsible for examining and treating these injured patients"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|title=A new and simple definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a new simple definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & A Brief History of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and an Irreverent History of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome|last=Hyde|first=Byron|authorlink=Byron Hyde|date=May 12, 2006|website=Irish M.E. Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609034420/https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|archive-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>, and justified them in part based on patients being predominantly women, saying, "We believe these epidemiological peculiarities — the predilection for young women and for institutions containing an undue proportion of them — provide good positive evidence for mass hysteria as an explanation of the illness.”<ref name="McEvedy-Beard" />

The published paper was covered in Time magazine<ref name=":0" />, and resulted in, "funding [for ME research] from governments and major donors [drying] up and many physicians, perhaps influenced as much by a Time Magazine article as in the British Medical Journal, [turning] their back on this significant illness that was Myalgic Encephalomyelitis."<ref name=":0" />

==Notable studies ==
*1970, Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis<ref name="McEvedy-Beard" /> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ (Full text)]

==See also ==
* [[History of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome]]
* [[Colin McEvedy]]
* [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis]]
* [[Psychologization]]

==Learn more ==
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1670186/pdf/bmj00131-0063.pdf Obituary: A W Beard] - [[Colin McEvedy]]
* [https://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/313 Biography: Alfred William Beard] - RCPsych

==References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Researchers]]
[[Category:Psychological paradigm proponents]]
[[Category:UK researchers]]

Colin McEvedy

2025-12-09T12:06:28Z

Historycurious:source archive date bug fix

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Dr '''Colin Peter McEvedy''' (1930-2005) was a British consultant psychiatrist McEvedy best known for his research on [[hysteria]], bubonic plague and the history of [[polio]].<ref name="McEvedyBio">{{Cite journal | last = Richmond | first = Caroline | authorlink = | date = Oct 8, 2005 | title = Colin McEvedy | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1246098/ | journal = BMJ : British Medical Journal|volume=331 | issue = 7520 | pages = 847|issn=0959-8138|pmc=1246098|quote=|via=}}</ref>

==Benign myalgic encephalomyelitis controversy ==
In 1970, Colin McEvedy and fellow psychiatrist [[William Beard|A William Beard]] published an influential study of 15 epidemics of [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], then known as ''benign myalgic encephalomyelitis'', concluding that the illness was the result of ''psychosocial phenomena'', and caused by either "[[mass hysteria]] on the part of patients" or "altered medical perception of the community".

The authors reached their conclusions in spite of the fact that "no patient was examined, no history was taken, not even was there any consultation with any of the senior or junior physicians who had been responsible for examining and treating these injured patients"<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|title=A new and simple definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a new simple definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & A Brief History of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and an Irreverent History of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome|last=Hyde|first=Byron|authorlink=Byron Hyde|date=May 12, 2006|website=Irish M.E. Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609034420/https://www.imet.ie/imet_documents/BYRON_HYDE_little_red_book.pdf|archive-date=June 9, 2025}}</ref>, and justified them in part based on patients being predominantly women, saying, "We believe these epidemiological peculiarities — the predilection for young women and for institutions containing an undue proportion of them — provide good positive evidence for mass hysteria as an explanation of the illness.”<ref name="McEvedy-Beard">{{cite journal | date = | title = Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis |url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ | journal = [[British Medical Journal]]|volume=1 | issue = 5687 | pages = 11–5|doi=10.1136/bmj.1.5687.11|pmc=1700895|pmid=5411596 | last = McEvedy|first = CP|quote= | authorlink = Colin McEvedy | author-link2 = William Beard|via= | last2 = Beard | first2 = AW}}</ref>

Asked years later by [[Lord Byron Hyde]], "Why had he written up the Free Hospital epidemics as hysteria without any careful exploration of the basis of his thesis?", McEvedy replied, "It was an easy PhD, why not."<ref name=":0" />

The published paper was covered in Time magazine<ref name=":0" />, and resulted in, "funding [for ME research] from governments and major donors [drying] up and many physicians, perhaps influenced as much by a Time Magazine article as in the British Medical Journal, [turning] their back on this significant illness that was Myalgic Encephalomyelitis."<ref name=":0" />

==Notable studies ==
*1970, Concept of Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis<ref name="McEvedy-Beard" /> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1700895/ (Full text)]

==See also ==
* [[History of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome]]
* [[William Beard]]
* [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis]]

==Learn more ==
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1246098/ Colin McEvedy (obituary)]

==References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Researchers]]
[[Category:Psychological paradigm proponents]]
[[Category:UK researchers]]