Abstract:
Primary and specialty care clinicians strive to base diagnoses and treatment on specific, measurable abnormalities. Yet those with invisible, controversial illnesses such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) often have symptoms not explained by standard laboratory values. For instance, one of the cardinal features of ME/CFS is postexertional malaise, the exacerbation of symptoms-fatigue, pain, cognitive dysfunction-following exertion, which contradicts studies showing the health benefits of exercise. In these cases, overly physicalist approaches to caring for patients are not likely to be helpful, and a clinician’s willingness to listen to a patient’s experience of illness becomes essential.
Source: Wall D. The Importance of Listening in Treating Invisible Illness and Long-Haul COVID-19. AMA J Ethics. 2021 Jul 1;23(7):E590-595. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2021.590. PMID: 34351274. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34351274/