David Tuller

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David Tuller
Bornc. 1957 [1]
Occupation(s)Journalist, Public Health Expert

David Tuller is a journalist and public health lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley Center for Global Public Health. [1] [2] He spent his early career covering HIV/AIDS, then pivoted to ME/CFS.

Contents

Career

His career in public health began with AIDS advocacy in the 1980s. [1] He is also the author of Cracks in the Iron Closet: Travels in Gay and Lesbian Russia, a 1997 book on LGBT history and life in Russia based on Tuller's travels and interviews with LGBT Russians. [3] [4]

Currently, he is a senior fellow in public health and journalism at a crowdfunded position at Berkeley. [1] Before it was widely accepted as such, he advocated for the acceptance of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) as a biological condition. [1] In 2015, he published "Trial by Error," a four-part article criticizing the design of the PACE trial, a controversial study that claimed CBT and graded exercise therapy were effective treatments for ME/CFS, and alleging conflicts of interest among the trial's investigators. [5] [6] [7] Proponents of the controversial psychosomatic model, many of which were behind the PACE trial, accused their critics of harassment. Tuller disputed that his work encouraged this, saying his activities follow academic standards. Later, the claims of harassment were found to be “wildly exaggerated” by a tribunal judge. [8]

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatigue</span> Range of afflictions, usually associated with physical or mental weakness

Fatigue describes a state of tiredness, exhaustion or loss of energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ME Association</span> UK charitable organization

The ME Association is a UK health charitable organization that provides information, advocacy, and services to persons and families affected by ME/CFS, and raises funds for research into ME/CFS. It has been reported to be one of the two largest UK charities for ME/CFS.

Rintatolimod, sold under the tradename Ampligen, is a medication intended for treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). There is some evidence it may improve some ME/CFS symptoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of ME/CFS</span> Review of the topic

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has a long history with an evolution in medical understanding, diagnoses and social perceptions.

Management of ME/CFS focusses on symptoms management, as no treatments that address the root cause of the illness are available. Pacing, or regulating one's activities to avoid triggering worse symptoms, is the most common management strategy for post-exertional malaise. Clinical management varies widely, with many patients receiving combinations of therapies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Controversies related to ME/CFS</span> Controversies and issues related to ME/CFS

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is an illness with a history of controversy. Although it is classified as an organic disease, it was historically assumed to be psychosocial, and a minority of medical professionals still hold this view. The pathophysiology of ME/CFS remains unclear, there exists many competing diagnostic criteria, and some proposed treatments are controversial. There is a lack of awareness about the condition, which has led to substantiated accusations of patient neglect and harm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinical descriptions of ME/CFS</span> Review of the topic

Clinical descriptions of ME/CFS vary. Different groups have produced sets of diagnostic criteria that share many similarities. The biggest differences between criteria are whether post-exertional malaise (PEM) is required, and the number of symptoms needed.

The Lightning Process (LP) is a three-day personal training programme developed and trademarked by British osteopath Phil Parker. It makes unsubstantiated claims to be beneficial for various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and chronic pain.

Graded exercise therapy (GET) is a programme of physical activity that starts very slowly and gradually increases over time, intended as a treatment for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Most public health bodies, including the CDC and NICE, consider it ineffective, and its safety is disputed. However, GET still enjoys support among a minority of clinicians and organizations.

David Sheffield Bell is an American physician who has done extensive research on the clinical aspects of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). He has also conducted evaluations and research in pediatric ME/CFS and written numerous articles about the condition.

Daniel Peterson is an American physician in private practice in the state of Nevada, and has been described as a "pioneer" in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). He graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York, in 1976 and was an intern and resident at the University of Utah Medical Center from 1976 to 1979. In 1979, he became a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is president of Sierra Internal Medicine of Incline Village, established in 1981.

Dr. José Gilberto Montoya is a prominent researcher known for his contributions to the field of infectious diseases, particularly in the area of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and the role of infectious agents in its development. His research has shed light on the potential involvement of pathogens and immune dysregulation in the pathophysiology of CFS. He was a Professor of Medicine in Infectious Disease at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he led Stanford's Initiative on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He has worked on a wide variety of projects, including research focused on the efficacy of new smallpox vaccines. Additionally, he was the founder and co-director of the Immunocompromised Host Service and works at the Positive Care Clinic at Stanford. He is originally from Cali, Colombia.

Kenny de Meirleir is a Belgian medical doctor best known for his work on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), including the book Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Biological Approach (2002) which he co-edited with Patrick Englebienne. He currently serves as medical director at the controversial Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome</span> Chronic medical condition

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating long-term medical condition. People with ME/CFS experience delayed worsening of the illness after minor physical or mental activity, which is the hallmark symptom of the illness. Other core symptoms are a greatly reduced ability to do tasks that were previously routine, severe fatigue that does not improve much with rest, and sleep disturbances. Further common symptoms include dizziness or nausea when sitting or standing, along with memory and concentration issues and pain.

Rosamund Vallings is a medical doctor, known as one of the leading authorities on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-exertional malaise</span> Worsening of symptoms with activity

Post-exertional malaise (PEM), sometimes referred to as post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), is a worsening of symptoms that occurs after minimal exertion. It is the hallmark symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and common in long COVID and fibromyalgia PEM is often severe enough to be disabling, and is triggered by ordinary activities that healthy people tolerate. Typically, it begins 12–48 hours after the activity that triggers it, and lasts for days, but this is highly variable and may persist much longer. Management of PEM is symptom-based, and patients are recommended to pace their activities to avoid triggering PEM.

Idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF) or chronic idiopathic fatigue or insufficient/idiopathic fatigue is a term used for cases of unexplained fatigue that have lasted at least six consecutive months and which do not meet the criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Such fatigue is widely understood to have a profound effect on the lives of patients who experience it.

Pacing is an activity management technique for managing a long-term health condition or disability, aiming to maximize what a person can do while reducing, or at least controlling, any symptoms that restrict activity. Pacing is commonly used to help manage conditions that cause chronic pain or chronic fatigue.

The Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) is a US-based charity that funds research into the illnesses myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and long COVID.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sick and tired: Online activists are silencing us, scientists say". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  2. "Sick and Tired | Undiscovered". WNYC Studios. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  3. Baldinger, Scott (1996-08-21). "Cracks In The Iron Closet". Salon. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  4. "Cracks in the Iron Closet: Travels in Gay and Lesbian Russia, Tuller". University of Chicago Press.
  5. "Criticism mounts of a long-controversial chronic fatigue study". www.science.org. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  6. Johnson, Cort (2019-04-17). "David Tuller On Exposing the Bad Science Behind the Biopsychosocial Effort to Define ME/CFS". Health Rising. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  7. Wise, Jeff (2022-11-04). "Has Long COVID Always Existed?". Intelligencer. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  8. Blease, Charlotte; Geraghty, Keith J. (2018-09-01). "Are ME/CFS Patient Organizations "Militant"?". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 15 (3): 393–401. doi:10.1007/s11673-018-9866-5. ISSN   1872-4353.