people with ME/CFS. In 2016, the MEA called for graded exercise therapy to be withdrawn and stated that CBT should not be a primary intervention for ME/CFS. In 2018, the MEA repeated that GET should be withdrawn, and this should not be delayed until the ongoing UK's NICE guidelines review was completed. The 2015 MEA survey results concluded that CBT based on the assumption that abnormal beliefs and behaviours are responsible for maintaining the illness, are inappropriate, and risked a worsening of symptoms. A CBT practitioner's belief that ME/CFS is a psychological illness also resulted in less symptom improvement, more symptom worsening, and dissatisfaction of treatment by persons with ME/CFS. The MEA stated CBT that counsels patients with practical coping skills and dealing with co-morbid conditions may be appropriate and should be available as required to ME/CFS patients the same as other chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cancer, heart disease, and arthritis etc. Pacing was considered, "the most effective, safe, acceptable and preferred form of activity management for people with ME/CFS". The MEA recommended it should be the major management strategy. The ME association is skeptical of the guidance recommended by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for primary treatment of ME/CFS. The MEA considers CBT with GET not safe for ME/CFS patients, or not effective. The ME Association recommends that persons with ME/CFS consider a pacing approach to the illness. In 2017, the ME Association raised concerns about the use of the controversial lightning process, with medical advisor Charles Shepherd claiming it was "pseudoscience" for a treatment to claim effectiveness for so many different illnesses at once. Additionally, MEA advocates that NICE has not studied the physiological aspects of persons with ME/CFS. Long COVID In 2020, the ME Association's medical advisor said that COVID-19 may lead to some patients developing post-viral fatigue syndrome, which could then lead to ME/CFS. In May 2020, the MEA published several advice leaflets about the coronavirus. References External links What is ME/CFS? 1976 establishments in England Health charities in the United Kingdom Medical and health organisations based in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1976 Charities based in Buckinghamshire Chronic fatigue syndrome