§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research into myalgic encephalomyelitis has been conducted in each of the last five years; and at what cost. [18573]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC has been funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry, the estimated cost of which is £91,000, to investigate chronic fatigue in general1216W practitioners' attenders. The researchers at the institute are attempting to find ways to help people with chronic fatigue cope with their disease and regain their health. The MRC is always willing to receive and consider soundly based research proposals in competition with other applications.
Additionally, there is much basic science which is relevant to identifying and understanding possible mechanisms of chronic fatigue syndrome, such as neurotransmitters, immunology, which is taking place but which is not necessarily directly identified as related to CFS. The Department of Health also keeps in touch with research being funded by bodies such as the Linbury Trust.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the incidence and causes of, and departmental policy towards, myalgic encephalomyelitis. [18574]
§ Mr. SackvilleWe recognise what is increasingly being referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome as a potentially debilitating and distressing complex. Unfortunately, the causes of CFS are not understood, nor is there a generally agreed method of treatment. While a number of definitions, disease descriptions or diagnostic criteria have been proposed, there is still no general consensus amongst the medical professions or among patient groups as to which should be used. This hampers research, and studies on the prevalence of the condition. There is no diagnostic test for CFS and diagnosis depends upon the patients symptoms/signs falling into one of these disease descriptions. Until these matters are resolved, there is no possibility of establishing the true incidence of CFS.
The national task force on CFS, PVFS—post viral fatigue syndrome—and ME has produced a report; the task force is autonomous of the Department. With a view to securing progress and promoting the development of a professional consensus, the chief medical officer has invited the Conference of Colleges to consider the report. The views of the Conference of Colleges will be of much assistance to the Department in helping to determine the best way forward.