PRESS RELEASE IN ENGLISH: "The Angry Doctor” opens a new clinic for ME/CFS

ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) is a disabling condition affecting up to 40 000 people each year in Sweden. “Those affected need adequate treatment” says Björn Bragée, a pain physician known from the Swedish TV show “The Angry Doctor” where he helped patients who had had difficulties getting adequate care from health care. Now he is opening a clinic specifically for ME/CFS patients.

“We need quality research and a better understanding available in public health care regarding this diagnosis. At our clinic we will be working from a biomedical perspective and staying updated on new available treatments. So far, there is no treatment that works for everyone”. “Many are bedridden at home and their quality of life is alarmingly low” says Björn Bragée. Home visits will be an important part of the clinics methods of providing care.

The etiology of ME/CFS is unknown, but in 90% of cases an infection has precipitated the onset of the condition.

“Physicians often focus on the fatigue and prescribe antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise. That type of treatment can often cause sufferers to get worse” says Kerstin Heiling, chair of RME (The Swedish National Association for ME), an organization that welcomes the new clinic.

The most prominent symptom of ME/CFS is “PEM” (post exertional malaise) a deterioration after different types of exertion. While most people enjoy better health from exercising, sufferers from ME/CFS only get worse and there is little future improvement to hope for. “ME/CFS” is a physical illness with many deviations in how the body reacts to activity” says Kerstin Heiling.

At Bragée ME/CFS-center the method of ”pacing” is used as a way to manage daily activities, while many other clinics focus on ”GET”, Graded Exercise Therapy.

”Using ‘pacing’ means first and foremost tailoring activities to the current capacity of the individual – that usually means things will follow naturally” says Björn Bragée.

So far there have been three clinics in Sweden working with sufferers from ME/CFS. The first one in Stockholm opened in 2015 and quickly developed a long waiting list. With the opening of Bragée ME/CFS Centre, Stockholm will have its second clinic.

So far, no patients from abroad have visited the Bragée ME/CFS-center, however as Björn Bragée says ”Within the EU every person is free to seek medical care in countries other than their own, given that the same type of care is available in their home country. ”

“The RME association is working towards all people suffering from ME/CFS receiving a correct diagnosis and treatment founded on biomedical knowledge” says Kerstin Heiling. “Our hope is that the Bragée ME/CFS Centre will be able to provide alleviation for sufferers who cannot leave home while we wait for a cure”.

Contact:

Björn Bragée, +46 8 557 601 62, bjorn.bragee@bragee.se

Lena Olausson, press contact, +46 8 557 601 68, lena.olausson@bragee.se