No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
What are the barriers to the SHAI being completed within a ME/CFS service?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 November 2020
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition, characterised by unexplained and excessive fatigue, muscle pain and sleep disturbances. Health anxiety is common in ME/CFS and accurate measurement is essential in facilitating therapeutic gains. However, there are clinical concerns over the utility of the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) in measuring health anxiety in this population. This study aims to use qualitative responses from two ex-service users and specialist health clinicians to explore the barriers to completing the SHAI within a specialist ME/CFS service. Qualitative responses from a focus group consisting of 15 specialist health professionals including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians, cognitive behavioural therapists, counsellors, clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists were transcribed and analysed for themes. Patient voices were represented by two former service users through individual semi-structured interviews on the telephone, which were recorded, transcribed and later analysed thematically. Clinicians and service user involvement agreed on core difficulties with the utility of the SHAI in the ME/CFS population. The timing of the SHAI being administered pre-diagnosis, the language of the SHAI and lack of context around the questionnaire were identified as barriers that were likely to contribute to the SHAI not being completed by service users. Sensitive and accurate measurement is required in order to retain patient engagement, which could further facilitate appropriate assessment and treatment of health anxiety and ME/CFS. Findings suggest that adaption of the SHAI is vital for use with ME/CFS.
Key learning aims
(1) To understand the different barriers to completing the SHAI in a ME/CFS service.
(2) To understand the implications of administering the SHAI to ME/CFS service users.
(3) To learn from multi-disciplinary ME/CFS health professionals about perceived difficulties in administering the SHAI.
- Type
- Reviews of Assessment Tools and Delivery
- Information
- Copyright
- © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2020
References
Further reading
Daniels, J., & Loades, M. E. (2017). A novel approach to treating CFS and co-morbid health anxiety: a case study. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24, 727–736.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, J., Brigden, A., & Kacorova, A. (2017). Anxiety and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): examining the incidence of health anxiety in CFS/ME. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 90, 502–509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, J., Parker, H., & Salkovskis, P. M. (2020). Prevalence and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and co-morbid severe health anxiety. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 20, 10–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tyrer, P., Salkovskis, P., Tyrer, H., Wang, D., Crawford, M. J., Dupont, S., … & Bhogal, S. (2017). Cognitive-behaviour therapy for health anxiety in medical patients (CHAMP): a randomised controlled trial with outcomes to 5 years. Health Technology Assessment, 21, 1–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
References
Abramowitz, J. S., Olatunji, B. O., & Deacon, B. J. (2007). Health anxiety, hypochondriasis, and the anxiety disorders. Behavior Therapy, 38, 86–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alberts, N. M., Hadjistavropoulos, H. D., Jones, S. L., & Sharpe, D. (2013). The Short Health Anxiety Inventory: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 27, 68–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Åsbring, P., & Närvänen, A. L. (2002). Women’s experiences of stigma in relation to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Qualitative Health Research, 12, 148–160.Google ScholarPubMed
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castell, B. D., Kazantzis, N., & Moss-Morris, R. E. (2011). Cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise for chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 18, 311–324.Google Scholar
Cella, M., White, P. D., Sharpe, M., & Chalder, T. (2013). Cognitions, behaviours and co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychological Medicine, 43, 375–380.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collin, S. M., Crawley, E., May, M. T., Sterne, J. A., & Hollingworth, W. (2011). The impact of CFS/ME on employment and productivity in the UK: a cross-sectional study based on the CFS/ME national outcomes database. BMC Health Services Research, 11, 217.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, J., & Wearden, A. J. (2011). Socialization to the model: the active component in the therapeutic alliance? A preliminary study. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 39, 221–227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, J., & Loades, M. E. (2017). A novel approach to treating CFS and co-morbid health anxiety: a case study. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24, 727–736.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, J., Brigden, A., & Kacorova, A. (2017). Anxiety and depression in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): examining the incidence of health anxiety in CFS/ME. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 90, 502–509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, J., Parker, H., & Salkovskis, P. M. (2020). Prevalence and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and co-morbid severe health anxiety. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 20, 10–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duggleby, W. (2005). What about focus group interaction data? Qualitative Health Research, 15, 832–840.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnston, S., Brenu, E. W., Staines, D., & Marshall-Gradisnik, S. (2013). The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a meta-analysis. Clinical Epidemiology, 5, 105.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ME Association (2015). ‘No decisions about me, without me’: Results of the 2012 ME Association Patient Survey Examining Acceptability, Efficacy and Safety of CBT, GET, and Pacing, as Interventions used as Management Strategies for CFS/ME. Retrieved from: https://www.meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015-ME-Association-Illness-Management-Report-No-decisions-about-me-without-me-30.05.15.pdf
Google Scholar
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2007). Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or Encephalopathy). Diagnosis and Management of CFS/ME in Adults and Children. Quick Reference Guide. NICE Clinical Guideline 53.Google Scholar
Parker, A., & Tritter, J. (2006). Focus group method and methodology: current practice and recent debate. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 29, 23–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rode, S., Salkovskis, P., Dowd, H., & Hanna, M. (2006). Health anxiety levels in chronic pain clinic attenders. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 60, 155–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salkovskis, P. M., Rimes, K. A., Warwick, H. M. C., & Clark, D. M. (2002). The Health Anxiety Inventory: development and validation of scales for the measurement of health anxiety and hypochondriasis. Psychological Medicine, 32, 843–853.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoll, S. V. E., Crawley, E., Richards, V., Lal, N., Brigden, A., & Loades, M. E. (2017). What treatments work for anxiety in children with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)? Systematic review. BMJ Open, 7, e015481.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tyrer, P., Cooper, S., Crawford, M., Dupont, S., Green, J., Murphy, D., … & Keeling, M. (2011). Prevalence of health anxiety problems in medical clinics. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 71, 392–394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varni, S. E., Miller, C. T., McCuin, T., & Solomon, S. (2012). Disengagement and engagement coping with HIV/AIDS stigma and psychological well-being of people with HIV/AIDS. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 31, 123–150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vogel, D. L., Wade, N. G., & Haake, S. (2006). Measuring the self-stigma associated with seeking psychological help. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 53, 325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fanous et al. Supplementary Materials
Fanous et al. Supplementary Materials
File
16.9 KB
Comments
No Comments have been published for this article.