ME/CFS/PVFS Clinical and Research Guide

The latest edition of ‘ME/CFS/PVFS – An Exploration of the Clinical Issues’, (also known as the ‘Purple Book’), is a comprehensive 150-page guide to research, diagnosis, symptoms, and all aspects of management.

It has an improved layout and updated sections covering; Research – including the new genetics investigation: DecodeME – and over 600 of the most important published studies, Covid-19, and the importance of a correct management approach for people with M.E.

There are also chapters on epidemiology, prognosis, the NICE clinical guideline review, children and adolescents, as well as severe M.E. and many more topics relevant to this condition.

It is an authoritative publication representing the most comprehensive, evidence-based summary currently available and contains everything that health professionals and patients need to know about this devastating neurological disease.

The Clinical and Research Guide has been written by Dr Charles Shepherd, Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association and Dr Abhijit Chaudhuri, Consultant Neurologist, from the Essex Centre for Neurosciences.

Although aimed at health professionals, the book is written so that it can be easily understood by people with M.E.

Free copies for health professionals

Using funding from the ME Association medical education budget we send out free hard copies to health professionals and medical students via our mailing list or on an individual basis.

This can be done by direct request from a health professional or by people with M.E. sending us the name and address of a health professional who would like a copy.

We already have a list of over 900 health professionals who received a hard copy of the new guide in July. They also receive a covering letter from Dr Shepherd and from the Workwell Foundation in America that explains the dangers of graded exercise therapy (GET) for people with M.E.

• You can also purchase the guide in Kindle format from Amazon.

• We are very happy to receive feedback on this publication.

Telephone Helpline

The ME Association telephone helpline – ME Connect – is available every day of the year, during the hours of 10am-12noon, 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm. Please phone: 0344 576 5326 if you have any questions or would simply like to talk to someone who is there to listen.

Hard copies of the MEA Clinical and Research Guide can be ordered here in the website shop. Once purchased, they will be sent out to you in the post by Head Office. Please be aware that delivery may be slightly delayed due to the Covid situation.