Dr Derek Enlander interviewed in Belfast - May 6th 2008

[simontristan]

It is interesing to note that Dr Enlander calls it a physical illness and then goes onto prescribe drugs for the supposed "immune dysfunction".

Essentially both the medical and the psychiatric profession have hijacked 95% of these patients who actually suffer from a PHYSICAL DISORDER. This physical disorder is called TMD or Temporo-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction which is often coupled with the asymmetry of the 1st cervical vertebrae and absolutely nothing else.

[luminescentfeeling]

Thanks for uploading this.

Dr Enlander is one of the few people brave enough to speak the truth.

However, he can only do this - as he's out of the UK and cannot be 'set up' by the BMA.

Usually Doctors in the UK who dare to speak out like this guy, find themselves accused of malpractice.

I.E: Dr Hyams, Dr Behan, Dr Myhill et al.

[mesufferer]

What a great doctor. I wish he was mine. :)

[SharkBateNait]

He recommends drugs, and he's all white... he's right that it's not psychiatric, but I don't really trust him

[Lymezone]

A common cause of ME/CFS is the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. Most chronic Lyme Disease victims have longstanding chronic fatigue before finding their way to a doctor who understands the relationship between fatigue and Lyme.

[Cinnamon74]

It's about time the word got around that M.E. is a true physical disease and not a psychological one. I don't know of anyone with a psychiatric illness who can "create" a chronic fever, swollen glands, immunological abnormalities that show up on tests, etc. Dr. Enlander is an excellent doctor and human being. Bravo for his indefatigable efforts regarding treatment and advocacy!

[denlander794]

@Cinnamon74 Update 2010

the psychiatric clinic that was set up in the Ulster Hospital, Belfast closed. XMRV virus research focussed opinion away from the psychiatric notion and pointed toward a physical disease. Insurance companies went into a tailspin and had a mailstorm of negative research to disprove the idea of a viral relationship. Positive and negative papers are still discussing XMRV virus, We await final reaction there is more work under way to replicate or deny the original study

[coentje5]

we have same scandal in the netherlands!!!

who will bring this news to the media in the netherlands?

[neelubird]

Ah- some good news for a change. So glad that they publicised how wholly inadequate these psychiatric based treatment centres are:)

[Antoinette6161]

Well done to Dr Enlander in speaking out for the ME community at the way ME sufferers are being treated I hope that comments made by Dr Enlander an ME specialist coupled with the research of NI's Dr Jonathan Kerr which has shown there are 7 genetic types of ME found, will finally put to rest ME being treated as a psychiatric illness. It's 2008 ME sufferers shouldn't have to put up with 2nd class treatments I think the DOH need to take a proper look at the funding for ME as a matter of urgency.

[Bluebottle83]

Thank you so much Dr Enlander. It's a scandal M.E. is treated in the UK as a psychiatric disorder; it has been classified as a neurological illness by the World Health Organisation since 1969. It's a scandal that not one penny of government money has gone to researching the physical origins or treatment of M.E. all the money has gone to the psychiatrists.

Last year the Gibson report advised that an investigation into whether these psychiatrists are working for Unum and the DWP be made.