Carol,
At 23:51 04/10/98 +0100, you wrote:
> Lack of a physical lesion does **not** automatically mean that the pain
is of
>psychological origin.
Excellent point, Carol. It seems to me when traditional methods fail to
isolate an objective measure of disease, it is too easy to put things in
the too hard basket and label people as malingerers or tell them their
problem is between the ears. As an example, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Despite the vast amount of research into this disabling condition no
Physician would be confident to claim they can isolate the etiology and
prescribe treatment guaranteed to work. At the same time, there is research
showing an ASSOCIATION between CFS and psychological disturbance ( ie
depression). Unfortunately the difference between positive correlation and
a causal relationship is not often emphasised so when people sufferring
these sorts of disabling conditions are presented with these results it is
interpreted as saying "it's all in your head". I know if i was suddenly to
be struck with a condition like RA, FM or CFS I would pretty well guarantee
I would feel depressed as well.
Thanks for your posts,
Matt McEwan
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