Psychological Factors in CFS/ME & IBS

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Psychological Factors in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • IRAS ID

    171274

  • Contact name

    Hazel Carrick

  • Contact email

    hc553@bath.ac.uk

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 3 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    The term Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUSs) is used to described physical symptoms, which doctors can’t find a medical cause for. MUS can also refer to specific disorders, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which will be the focus of this study.

    It is agreed that MUSs are best understood using the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model (Deary, Chalder, & Sharpe, 2007). This model looks at how there are many different factors involved in these problems, such as levels of low mood & anxiety, the nature of physical symptoms, beliefs about symptoms and behavioural responses to symptoms.

    More research is needed to find out how these factors impact CFS/ME & IBS. More research is also needed to find out how these factors are similar and different in CFS/ME & IBS. This study will look at these issues. Patients with CFS/ME & IBS will be asked to completed questionnaires looking at these factors. The way people answer will help us to understand the things that are shared and different in CFS/ME & IBS, so that we can develop treatments that are tailored to each condition.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 7

  • REC reference

    15/WA/0298

  • Date of REC Opinion

    27 Aug 2015

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion