Harvard's "med" and "ed" is an actual disgrace

[JaimeS]

Apparently, Harvard just released a medical education module that is anything but.

USAWG already has ahold of it and so does #MEAction but I haven't yet seen it mentioned here.

The title is 'Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome', but if that's something you're interested in you should likely go elsewhere.

Link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/prom...ations/understanding-chronic-fatigue-syndrome

One advocate chose the following quotes just to give us all a taster of what's inside the box:

"Now, from the experts at Harvard Medical School, comes an indispensable guide to taking charge of your CFS and living life on your terms."

"In addition, Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome looks at the most current treatment options for CFS... There’s also helpful information on two psychotherapies which may play a role in CFS treatment— Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT)."

"As you’ll discover in Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you don’t have to let CFS ruin your life. Now is the time to take action and start reclaiming your health and vitality—order today!"

"Act now! There is real hope and help."

Yes, folks, the act now is important because the course is available for the low, low price of $14.99!

(I half expected to see that if you act now you can order TWO courses that minimize a life-changing illness and you "just pay shipping and handling".)

[EDIT: Oh gosh they GO THERE.

]

Just astounding.

"The guide also covers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an approach that helps people control the thoughts and behaviors that may trigger CFS symptoms.”

Seriously?! Are we still onto ME is caused by "thoughts"?

The content also lapses, calling CFS "chronic fatigue" and implying that the disease is, in fact, solely long-lasting fatigue. Even Fukuda isn't just that.

But why bother with facts where there's a buck to be made? Am I right or am I right?

 

[duncan]

Surprised? Really?

History does repeat itself if you only bother to look.

All of you who are looking to the predictable Ivies or such. or NIH or CDC to fix your problems: Take note.

 

[JaimeS]

Surprised? Really?

History does repeat itself if you only bother to look.

All of you who are looking to the predictable Ivies or such. or NIH or CDC to fix your problems: Take note.

What you're seeing is outrage, not surprise.

Additionally, considering the scope of the work that must be done, private industry doesn't have the wherewithal or desire to pick up the slack. That's why advocacy matters: we have to continue fighting for the gains that we are making, and we have to rally when we drop behind.

The idea that my outrage is due to a wellspring of faith in the American medical system would be a misinterpretation.

 

[Alvin]

Is there any ethics boards that have jurisdiction here?

 

[inox]

What....??!

Is that a hoax? Some sort of social experiment...? 'how desperate are patients to buy into anything - especially with flashy marketing' That's the only way I can make sense of that page.

Harvard on top, but the rest of it screams out SCAM...! The page have every marker of alternative therapy marketing (well, minus patients stories). Even a big, flashy red 'buy now'-button marked - "Act now! There is real hope and help."

 

[JaimeS]

What....??!

Is that hoax? Some sort of social experiment...? 'how desperate are patients to buy into anything - especially with flashy marketing' That's the only way I can make sense of that page.

Harvard on top, but the rest of it screams out SCAM...! The page have every marker of alternative therapy marketing (well, minus patients stories). Even a big, flashy red 'buy now'-button marked - "Act now! There is real hope and help."

I have always read stuff like this as meaning "scam cures for a disease that's a sham". The more they believe the illness is just 'people wanting attention' or 'focusing on widely-experienced sensations' or 'due to lots of overwork' the more ridiculous the proposed intervention.

A scale, where the Lightning Process is allll the way up to the top.

 

[Milo]

I wonder whether Dr Komaroff could look into it. This is quite distressing.

 

[inox]

Here's a more detailed description of what they are selling - "Understandig Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a bit less flashy, ut no less disturbing.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/understanding-chronic-fatigue-syndrome

But that's not in your guidelines for treatment, GET? Cause for official complaint?

Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome offers a variety of ideas for lifestyle change, including conserving energy, getting outside, and gradually increasing exercise levels.

And Harvard promoting chiropractic and acupuncture....?

In addition, you’ll read about integrative therapies you can turn to such as massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, and tai chi. The guide also covers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), an approach that helps people control the thoughts and behaviors that may trigger CFS symptoms.

edit: moved a sentence to above quote, (hopefully) making the post/my point more clear

 

[inox]

About the other e-book - "Boosting your energy":

Prepared in collaboration with the editors of Harvard Publications and Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D., Simcox-Clifford-Higby Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Senior Physician at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. 53 pages. (2016)

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/boosting-your-energy


From the 'exerpt' - a chapter about "Energy and exercise":

Exercise also boosts levels of compounds called endorphins, “feel-good” chemicals that lift your mood and are often credited for the “runner’s high.” An elevated mood in itself can be an energy booster.

Finally, regular aerobic exercise almost guarantees that you will sleep more soundly—a prerequisite for feeling refreshed. Exercise is the only proven way to increase the amount of time you spend in deep sleep, the type that particularly restores your energy.

Not for ME-people.... :-/ Doing more takes away my sleep first of all.

 

[JaimeS]

And Harvard promoting chiropractic and acupuncture....?

I don't think that's grounds for complaint. There are numerous studies showing acupuncture helps with pain... we wouldn't get far arguing against things only because they're outside the mainstream.

About the other e-book - "Boosting your energy"

Waaait, I remember this. I could never access the full text...

That one lists CFS as a "disease that causes fatigue" so there's the acknowledgement that fatigue is ONE symptom amongst many that contribute to CFS.

 

[inox]

I don't think that's grounds for complaint. There are numerous studies showing acupuncture helps with pain... we wouldn't get far arguing against things only because they're outside the mainstream.

Oh, no that was an additional stray thought - and agree.

I ment the bit about "gradually increasing exercise levels." Sorry, I see my post was less than clear.

Edit: But also for CBT - wasn't there a US official report finding no/very little support for it, and GET?

 

[JaimeS]

Edit: But also for CBT - wasn't there a US official report finding no/very little support for it, and GET?

Yes -- AHRQ.

 

[JaimeS]

Hey, everyone. I have word from a couple of sources that Ron Tompkins and WenZhong Xiao, both of Harvard, are on the case.

[Edit: And I've introduced Mike to Wenzhong via email in case he wants 'in'... and just got a response. They totally do already know each other!]

 

[Andy]

Hey, everyone. I have word from a couple of sources that Ron Tompkins and WenZhong Xiao, both of Harvard, are on the case.

So they are Acting Now! Good to hear.

 

[Hutan]

I'm having trouble believing this is from Harvard. For one thing, they don't seem to be able to spell:

The guide goes over intergrative therapies such as chiropractic, yoga, massage, and tai chi, and how they may help alleviate your symptoms.

 

[JaimeS]

I'm having trouble believing this is from Harvard. For one thing, they don't seem to be able to spell:

It was not well-considered to begin with I guess.

We've seen so much crappiness over the years that my knee-jerk response is really to be infuriated and tired like... we have to fight a lot of the same battles over and over again. I can only imagine how people feel who've been at this for decades.

But it's also really embarrassing to have a place like Harvard publish something like this, and trying to make a buck off of the name 'Harvard'. It's like an Ivy League transforming into Dr Oz before one's very eyes. Cringeworthy.

And really unethical to sell this bad advice to people who're sick and may feel like they have no recourse but to try everything put before them. We all know how pressured we are to keep trying/doing or else we "don't want to be well". I can see a new patient buying this and really thinking it's going to help...

Okay, back to being outraged.

I'd better read the thing so that I know how bad it is, too. I'll check and see if anyone has purchased it.

Let's not make it more than one of us, okay?

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

So they are Acting Now! Good to hear.

Maybe Harvard should be informed that even the UK House of Commons has just voted to drop CBT and GET.

 

[Andy]

Maybe Harvard should be informed that even the UK House of Commons has just voted to drop CBT and GET.

Can we actually claim that? I'm too tired to search for the full details of what was voted on right now but I don't remember wording being specific enough for us to be able to claim they voted to drop CBT and GET.

 

[Trish]

Can we actually claim that? I'm too tired to search for the full details of what was voted on right now but I don't remember wording being specific enough for us to be able to claim they voted to drop CBT and GET.

That this House calls on the Government to provide increased funding for biomedical research into the diagnosis and treatment of ME, supports the suspension of Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as means of treatment, supports updated training of GPs and medical professionals to ensure they are equipped with clear guidance on diagnosis of ME and appropriate management advice to reflect international consensus on best practice, and is concerned about the current trends of subjecting ME families to unjustified child protection procedures.

my bolding

 

[Andy]

my bolding

Oh, cool, thanks. Think that must show how frazzled I was that day trying to keep on top of the social media side of things.