Disability And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Clinical, Legal, and Patient Perspectives explores methods to assess severity of illness and impairment in persons suffering with CFS. It shows that more work needs to be done to develop objective measures of impairment that accurately reflect the patient's degree of disability. Contributors explore possible answers to the questions: How can a clinician quantify the degree of impairment? How can the legal and judicial systems weigh the facts and the impact of this illness on each person with CFS? How does a patient persevere and get past the barriers, despite his/her illness?

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are serious, debilitating conditions that affect millions of people in the United States and around the world. ME/CFS can cause significant impairment and disability. Despite substantial efforts by researchers to better understand ME/CFS, there is no known cause or effective treatment. Diagnosing the disease remains a challenge, and patients often struggle with their illness for years before an identification is made. Some health care providers have been skeptical about the serious physiological - rather than psychological - nature of the illness. Once diagnosed, patients often complain of receiving hostility from their health care provider as well as being subjected to treatment strategies that exacerbate their symptoms. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome proposes new diagnostic clinical criteria for ME/CFS and a new term for the illness - systemic exertion intolerance disease(SEID). According to this report, the term myalgic encephalomyelitis does not accurately describe this illness, and the term chronic fatigue syndrome can result in trivialization and stigmatization for patients afflicted with this illness. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome stresses that SEID is a medical - not a psychiatric or psychological - illness. This report lists the major symptoms of SEID and recommends a diagnostic process.One of the report's most important conclusions is that a thorough history, physical examination, and targeted work-up are necessary and often sufficient for diagnosis. The new criteria will allow a large percentage of undiagnosed patients to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will be a valuable resource to promote the prompt diagnosis of patients with this complex, multisystem, and often devastating disorder; enhance public understanding; and provide a firm foundation for future improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

Because of the individual and varying symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, medical guidelines encompassing the needs of every patient simply do not exist. Through proven research and recommendations for future treatment, Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Clinical, Legal, and Patient Perspectives discusses the difficult subject of how to diagnose disability in chronic fatigue syndrome patients, how to determine the severity of a patient's disability, and how new disability guidelines would make more chronic fatigue patients eligible to apply for disability benefits. From this information, you will gain a clearer understanding of chronic fatigue syndrome, enabling you to more accurately assess a patient's condition or decide if your client is eligible for disability benefits. Essential for clinicians, lawyers, patients, and medical insurers, Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome provides an outline of disability guidelines established by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Veterans'Administration, and the American Medical Association, as well as federal guidelines. While gaining information on the different types of disability insurance available to chronic fatigue patients, such as the Long Term Disability (LTD) policy, you will also learn how standard procedures such as psychiatric evaluation, neuropsychological testing, and physical capacity measurement can both help and hinder the process of determining disability in a patient. In addition, Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome provides insight into: the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, such as inability to work and level of stamina, in accordance with medical and legal definitions disability guidelines set by the SSA how patients'varying symptoms and conflicting findings affect disability diagnosis in chronic fatigue syndrome patients by SSA standards plans by the Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America to work with the SSA concerning strategies to dissolve barriers to Social Security Disability Income Benefits for patients and to advocate for up-to-date information on CFIDS in the SSA's Listing of Impairments. tips on applying for SSA benefits claims that insurance companies have used misleading surveillance videos and fraud to discontinue disability benefits to patients in need of coverage Since the Social Security Administration does not currently consider a CFIDS diagnosis enough to win a disability claim, Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also contains many recommendations for improving federal disability guidelines, such as using results from functional evaluations, neuropsychological testing, and exercise endurance testing as evidence of impairment. For less severe cases, this book provides you with suggestions for rehabilitation of CFS patients before disability claims are made, including patient training and education, dependency counseling, muscular conditioning, and occupational therapy. Whether you are a patient, clinician, lawyer, or medical insurer, Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will guide you through the complex issues surrounding disability and this intricate disease.

Social security rulings on federal old-age, survivors, disability, and supplemental security income; and black lung benefits.

In 2015, the Institute of Medicine (USA) issued a report critical of the research effort and clinical care for ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) formerly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS). While worldwide investigation into the cause and nature of ME/CFS remains disproportionately small, and treatment remains symptomatic and controversial, modest research continues in all aspects of this disease: epidemiology, possible infectious origins and other triggers, possible involvement of genetics, metabolism, and microbiome, influence of co-morbid conditions, and more. Treatment of patients consists of providing symptomatic relief. Guidance in doing so is provided for the clinician. School-age children require not only treatment but, as revealed in a 25-year retrospective study, continued engagement with peers and social activity. This e-book explores the breadth and depth of current ME/CFS research and clinical care. Its impact for other chronic, complex illnesses should not be overlooked.

Complete Coverage of chronic fatigue syndrome The Handbook of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome provides authoritative coverage of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). A leading group of international contributors present up-to-date information and guidance to improve the understanding, proper identification, and treatment of this debilitating disease. The handbook's comprehensive, multidisciplinary format draws on the medical, as well as mental health-related, aspects of CFS, including: History, diagnosis, and classification Phenomenology Symptomatology Assessment Treatment and intervention Pediatric and community issues Topics covered include complexity of diagnosis, social effects of chronic disorders, and a variety of treatment techniques, including phase-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapies, exercise therapy, and nutritional approaches. An insightful and unique resource, the Handbook of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an enlightening book for all mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and counselors, as well as medical personnel, such as nurses, physicians, and physical-occupational therapists.

Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury provides a summary of information from a conference on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia syndrome (FS), and related disorders. Many of the contributors are known for being actively involved in the study of the target disorders and represent countries around the world. In addition to health professionals, the contributors represent the legal profession and the insurance industry of Canada. The unique feature of this volume is its emphasis on disability and compensation. In Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury readers will find concise summaries of the formal presentations given at the Vancouver Conference in July 1994. The underlying tenor in the chapters is on viewing affective (psychological) pathology as a contributor to the underlying processes of these disorders. Readers are encouraged to follow closely the logic of each author's academic exercise. They will find that in many cases, the authors provoke more answers than they are able to answer, in the hope of promoting continued research toward finding concrete answers. The conference was designed to address etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment, disability, medico-legal issues and cost containment. The program agenda was issue driven rather than condition based. The papers were presented in a manner which allowed delegates and speakers to see the overlap and differences between these conditions. The purpose of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Repetitive Strain Injury is to provide education for primary care physicians, specialist physicians, other health care disciplines, patients, and the public. A second purpose is to enable investigators in the three topic areas to get new information from specialists around the world to develop new ideas, which will inform future research and consensus.