New therapy helps chronic fatigue patients improve life--

From KFOR Channel 4, Oklahoma City

MEG ALEXANDER reports

Updated: May 14, 2004 9:01 AM

You may think of chronic fatigue syndrome as an illness that makes the body tired. But many patients and researchers will tell you the disease also wears out the mind.

Now, a new therapy is helping patients gain a better quality of life and a sense of control over this often-frightening illness.

It looks like a video game, but instead of fighting aliens, Polly Little is fighting an illness, chronic fatigue syndrome. It's a mysterious disease that debilitates both body and mind.

"I wasn't even able to do simple things like giving a store clerk the right amount of change," said Polly Little, a chronic fatigue patient.

The video is actually part of a therapy called neurocognitive feedback that works to retrain abnormal brain waves researchers believe are responsible for the memory and focus problems many patients such as Polly experience.

"It's like a physical therapy exercise program for the brain," said Dr. Myra Preston, a neurophysiologist.

The key is a brain map that documents the brain wave irregularities and tracks the progress of the therapy. Preston patented the mapping method.

"The brains of chronic fatigue patients look like those of people who are asleep," she said.

Patient Judy Noblitt is having her map updated, so Preston can see if the feedback therapy is working.

Like many chronic fatigue Judy quickly gives out and can't complete the mental tasks given to her, it's a symptom common in chronic fatigue and one that often leads to misdiagnosis.

"They say you're depressed, you need to see a psychiatrist, there's nothing really wrong with you," Noblitt said.

But the abnormal brainwaves on Noblitt's brain map tell a different story. Her sleep waves dominate her brain activity while she's awake. But the map also shows feedback therapy is helping her sleepy brain stay awake longer.

"Overall, Judy's brain is functioning about 40 percent better," Preston said.

Preston notes the map and therapy can't cure the brain wave malfunction, but they can help patients like Judy and Polly gain a better quality of life.

"I've been able to get off quite a few of my medications, and no other treatment that I've done have I been able to do that," Little said.

These are victories that are helping these women regain control over their lives.

Preston said her chronic fatigue patients average about 60 1-hour neurocognitive feedback therapy sessions. There is also a home unit available.