For health professionals

ME/CFS is a complex neurological disorder. To help doctors to accurately diagnose and support patients with ME/CFS, Emerge Australia keeps this page up to date with the most relevant information, research news and resources for health professionals.

If you have a question, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

A new, accredited GP education module

Registered health professionals can enrol and complete training using this link: GP education module

Treatment and management

Pacing is currently considered to be the most effective management tool. Pacing involves reducing the patient’s physical and cognitive activity to remain within their limited energy reserves with lengthy periods of rest, to minimise post-exertional malaise (PEM) and other symptoms. More information on management and treatment, including pacing is provided on the treatment and management page.

Graded exercise therapy (GET) and cognitive behavioural therapy are no longer recommended as treatments for ME/CFS. More information can be found on the graded exercise therapy and CBT for ME/CFS page.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also have excellent up to date information on all things ME/CFS including treatment and management information. You can access the CDC information here.

ME/CFS resource for school nurses

School nurses can make a big difference in the life of a student with ME/CFS. School nurses are well placed to work in partnership with the student, their family, teaching staff, and the learning and support teams within the school to develop appropriate accommodations that can allow students with ME/CFS to continue to attend school and connect with their peers.

Please read more about supporting students with ME/CFS in a school environment by downloading our flyer.

Telehealth Nurse Service

Emerge Australia operates a Telehealth Nurse Service, which means that we employ a registered nurse to provide case management support for people with ME/CFS. See the telehealth nurse service page for more information.

Keep up with the latest on ME/CFS

Emerge Australia’s fortnightly Research Digest provides links to the latest Australian and international research journal articles on ME/CFS. The journal focuses on biomedical research and contains three or four short write ups of recent research publications.

Read the latest issue or sign up to have the Research Digest delivered by email so that you don't miss out on future issues.

Latest

Help us give the gift of knowledge this Christmas

People with ME/CFS face multiple challenges every day. Despite the devastating impact of this illness, thousands of Australians living with ME/CFS struggle to access high-quality, knowledgeable help.
Research Digest 11/12/20

Welcome to the 61st edition of the Research Digest. This fortnight's edition features a study investigating microRNA expression differences in ME/CFS patients before and after experiencing PEM, and a study that aimed to develop a sensor-based method to track upright activity as a way to measure ME/CFS disease severity.
Research Digest 27/11/20

Welcome to the 60th edition of the Research Digest featuring a study that aimed to determine whether there are differences in cardiac function in ME/CFS patients and a plasma proteomic analysis study.
New ME/CFS Clinical Guidelines for the UK

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published its long-awaited draft of the new ME/CFS clinical guidelines.

Open Medicine Foundation Australia

Emerge Australia is proud to be launching the 5th addition to a global network of OMF-established Collaborative Research Centres, with our partner, Open Medicine Foundation, seeing an Australian centre join with those at Harvard, Stanford, Uppsala, and Montreal universities.
Coronavirus and ME - Simplified facts

Many people with ME/CFS and other vulnerable communities in Australia are concerned about the impacts of the spreading coronavirus disease COVID-19. This is an easy-read resource with the latest information and advice.
Australian Research Centre to Open Early in 2021

The new Australian ME/CFS Centre for Collaborative Research is expected to officially open early in 2021
Research Digest 30/10/20

Welcome to the 58th edition of the Research Digest featuring a focus group study that aimed to gain insight into the PEM experiences of ME/CFS patients and a cluster analysis study defining subgroups of patients based on several measures of autonomic dysfunction.
Research Digest 04/09/20

Welcome to the 54th edition of the Research Digest. This fortnight's edition includes summary of a functional MRI study exploring brain responses to autonomic challenges in ME/CFS patients with and without temporomandibular disorder.
Research Digest 13/11/20

Welcome to the 59th edition of the Research Digest. This issue features a review article on the eitology of ME/CFS and a systematic review of neuroimaging studies.
Research Digest 16/10/20

Welcome to the 57th edition of the Research Digest featuring the results of the NHMRC ME/CFS Targeted Call for Research funding and a study that aimed to compare the subjective severity scoring of the SF-36 (based on the physical activity subscale) to two objective measures of activity in order to validate the way in which clinical severity is graded in ME/CFS.
What is ME/CFS?

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and disabling disease that affects many parts of the body, including the brain and muscles, as well as the digestive, immune and cardiac systems, among others.
What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is an associated condition of ME/CFS
Accessibility

A new, accredited GP education module

Treatment and management

ME/CFS resource for school nurses

Telehealth Nurse Service

Keep up with the latest on ME/CFS

Recommended reading