Photo by Breanna Walsh
Dr. Alison Wearden speaks about chronic fatigue syndrome on Jan. 28, 2015.
Dr. Alison Wearden, professor of health psychology at the University of Manchester, came to speak at Roosevelt University on Jan. 28 as part of the Department of Psychology lecture series to talk about chronic fatigue syndrome in an interpersonal context.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is categorized as a severe, persistent and disabling fatigue. Some symptoms include muscle pain and mental exhaustion.
“Approximately half the people who get this condition are actually no longer able to work, so it has a massive economic impact,” Dr. Wearden stated.
CFS is unique is that it cannot be attributed to another medical or psychiatric condition. It is usually diagnosed by ruling out other illnesses, as it is not specifically covered or taught in medical school. It affects approximately 0.2 to 0.4 percent of the population, per the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Wearden attended the University of Manchester as an undergraduate, earning a degree in psychology and later a degree in social work. Wearden then worked as a corrections officer for a number of years and earned a Ph.D. Shorty thereafter, she was able to combine her research in family processes and CFS.
Some treatments to help cure the illness are cognitive behavior therapy, graded exercise therapy and pragmatic rehabilitation. Wearden said what most affects the patients’ outcomes is the impact that significant others make.
“Significant others understanding [of the illness] will determine how they respond to the patient,” she said.
The illness affects every aspect of the patient’s life, including financial stability. Also, the patients’ belief about the illness is affected by the solicitous or negative responses of their significant other.
Verna Burton, a senior psychology major, talked about how the lecture helped her understand the deep effects of the illness.
“The lecture was enlightening. It helps to understand how deep the illness is and how it affects significant others and family,” Burton said.
According to a study done by the Clinical Psychology Science and Practice Review, self-reported questionnaire methods were used to conduct this specific research. The best way to help cure the illness is for significant others to encourage independence while at the same time recognizing the disease and its symptoms as legitimate.
Brian Treager, a clinical psychology graduate student, felt that the lecture was important in discussing and expanding upon the illness. .
“The lecture was great. It was very informative and the questions were thorough,” Treager said.
Dr. Susan Torres-Harding, Roosevelt associate professor in psychology and an expert in CFS, believes the research completed in the United Kingdom will help research in the United States.
“Though chronic fatigue syndrome may be different in the U.S., research collaborations with the U.K. will help add to our research,” Torres-Harding said.