313
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

An exploration of victim blaming in ‘medically unexplained symptoms’: Neoliberalism and the need to justify the self, group and the system

Eine Untersuchung der Schuldzuweisung von Opfern in “medizinisch unerklärlichen Symptomen”: Neoliberalismus und die Notwendigkeit, das Selbst und das System zu rechtfertigen

Una exploración de la culpabilización de la víctima en “síntomas médicamente inexplicables”: el neoliberalismo y la necesidad de justificar el yo y el Sistema

Indagine sul fenomeno della colpevolizzazione delle vittime quando il paziente manifesta dei “sintomi medicalmente inspiegabili”: il neoliberismo e la necessità di giustificare il sé e il sistema

Εξερεύνηση της ενοχοποίησης των θυμάτων με «ιατρικά ανεξήγητα συμπτώματα»: Νεοφιλελευθερισμός και η ανάγκη για τεκμηρίωση του εαυτού και του συστήματος

ORCID Icon
Pages 278-300 | Received 05 Jun 2022, Accepted 06 Mar 2023, Published online: 08 Aug 2023

References

  • Adams, G., Estrada, V. S., Sullivan, D., & Markus, H. R. (2019). The psychology of neoliberalism and the neoliberalism of psychology. Journal of Social Issues, 75(1), 189–216. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12305
  • Anderson, V. R., Jason, L. A., Hlavaty, L. E., Porter, N., & Cudia, J. (2012). a review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Patient Education and Counseling, 86(2), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2011.04.016
  • Aragon, C., & Jaggar, A. M. (2018). Agency, complicity, and the responsibility to resist structural injustice. Journal of Social Philosophy, 49(3), 439–460. https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12251
  • Arfken, M., & Yen, J. (2014). Psychology and social justice: Theoretical and philosophical engagements. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 34(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033578
  • Bettache, K., & Chiu, C. (2019). The invisible hand is an ideology: Toward a social psychology of neoliberalism. Journal of Social Issues, 75(1), 8–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12308
  • Blease, C., Carel, H., & Geraghty, K. (2017). Epistemic injustice in healthcare encounters: Evidence from chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal of Medical Ethics, 43(8), 549–557. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2016-103691
  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. (2018) . Ethical framework for the counselling professions. BACP.
  • British Psychological Society. (2017). Practice guidelines: Third edition. https://www.bps.org.uk/guideline/bps-practice-guidelines-2017-0
  • Burgess, M., & Chalder, T. (2005). Overcoming chronic fatigue: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioral techniques. Robinson Publishing Ltd.
  • Cheshire, A., Ridge, D., Hughes, J., Peters, D., Panagioti, M., Simon, C., & Lewith, G. (2017). Influences on GP coping and resilience: A qualitative study in primary care. The British Journal of General Practice: The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 67(659), e428–e436. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X690893
  • Chew-Graham, C., Dixon, R., Shaw, J. W., Smyth, N., Lovell, K., & Peters, S. (2009). Practice nurses’ views of their role in the management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalagic EncePhalitis: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-8-2
  • Deary, V., Chalder, T., & Sharpe, M. (2007). The cognitive behavioural model of medically unexplained symptoms: A theoretical and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(7), 781–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2007.07.002
  • Dowrick, C., Gask, L., Hughes, J. G., Charles-Jones, H., Hogg, J. A., Peters, S., Salmon, P., Rogers, A. R., & Morriss, R. K. (2008). General practitioners’ views on reattribution for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A questionnaire and qualitative study. BMC Family Practice, 9(46). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-9-46
  • Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science: Advanced Materials and Devices, 196(4286), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460
  • Etherington, K. (2017). Personal experience and critical reflexivity in counselling and psychotherapy research. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 17(2), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12080
  • Fotaki, M. (2019). Throwing good money after bad: Health services without care under marketised welfare. In C. Jackson & R. Rizq (Eds.), The industialisation of care: Counselling, psychotherapy and the impact of IAPT (pp. 60–79). PCCS Books.
  • Geraghty, K., Jason, L., Sunnquist, M., Tuller, D., Blease, C., & Adeniji, C. (2019). The ‘cognitive behavioural model’ of chronic fatigue syndrome: Critique of a flawed model. Health Psychology Open, 6(1), 205510291983890. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055102919838907
  • Geraghty, K., & Scott, M. J. (2020). Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): Major limitations identified. BMC Psychology, 8(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-0380-2
  • Geraghty, K. J., & Blease, C. (2019). Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: A review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter. Disability and Rehabilitation: An International, Multidisciplinary Journal, 41(25), 3092–3102. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1481149
  • Geraghty, K., Hann, M., & Kurtev, S. (2019). Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome patients’ reports of symptom changes following cognitive behavioural therapy, graded exercise therapy and pacing treatments: Analysis of a primary survey compared with secondary surveys. Journal of Health Psychology, 24(10), 1318–1333.https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105317726152
  • Goodley, D. (2011). Social psychoanalytic disability studies. Disability & Society, 26(6), 715–728. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2011.602863
  • Goodley, D. (2020). The psychology of disability. In N. Watson & S. Vehmas (Eds.), Routledge handbook of disability studies (2nd ed., pp. 237–249). Routledge.
  • Hannon, K., Peters, S., Fisher, L., Riste, L., Wearden, A., Lovell, K., Turner, P., Leech, Y., & Chew-Graham, C. (2012). Developing resources to support the diagnosis and management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME) in primary care: A qualitative study. BMC Family Practice, 13(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-13-93
  • Hollander, N. C. (2017). Mapping aggression and hegemony in the neoliberal era. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 27(6), 669–677. https://doi.org/10.1080/10481885.2017.1379323
  • Hughes, B. (2015). Disabled people as counterfeit citizens: The politics of resentment past and present. Disability & Society, 30(7), 991–1004. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2015.1066664
  • Huibers, M. J. H., & Wessely, S. (2006). The act of diagnosis: Pros and cons of labelling chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychological Medicine, 36(7), 895–900. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291705006926
  • Hunt, J. (2022a). Examining the psychology of practitioners, institutions and structures: ‘Medically unexplained symptoms’ and biopsychosocial discourse reflexively revisited. Outlines Critical Practice Studies, 23(1), 6–49. https://doi.org/10.7146/ocps.v23i1.129191
  • Hunt, J. (2022b, July 18). Holistic or harmful? Examining socio-structural factors in the biopsychosocial model of chronic illness, ‘medically unexplained symptoms’ and disability. Disability & Society, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2022.2099250
  • Hunt, J. (2022c). Towards a critical psychology of chronic fatigue syndrome: Biopsychosocial narratives and UK welfare reform. The Journal of Critical Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, 22(1), 18–28.
  • Hunt, J., Blease, C., & Geraghty, K. (2022). Long Covid at the crossroads: Comparisons and lessons from the treatment of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Journal of Health Psychology, 27(14), 3106–3120. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053221084494
  • Johansen, M.-L., & Risor, M. (2017). What is the problem with medically unexplained symptoms for GPs? A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. Patient Education and Counseling, 100(4), 647–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2016.11.015
  • Jolly, D. (2012, April, 8). A tale of two models: Disabled people vs Unum, Atos, government and disability charities. Disabled People Against Cuts. http://dpac.uk.net/2012/04/a-tale-of-two-models-disabled-people-vs-unum-atos-government-and-disability-charities-debbie-jolly/
  • Jost, J. T., & Major, B. (Eds.). (2001). The psychology of legitimacy: Emerging perspectives on ideology, justice, and intergroup relations. Cambridge University Press.
  • Jost, J. T., & van der Toorn, J. (2012). System justification theory. In P. A. M. van Lange, A. W. Kruglanski, & E. T. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of theories of social psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 313–343). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446249222.n42
  • Kalfas, M., Smakowski, A., Hirsch, C., Simiao, F., & Chalder, T. (2022). Generalised worry in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome following cognitive behavioural therapy - a prospective cohort study in secondary care. Behavior Therapy, 53(5), 828–842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2022.01.004
  • Kinsella, P. & Moya, H. (2022). CBT for long-term conditions and medically unexplained symptoms: A practitioner’s guide. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367824433
  • Klein, M. (1946). Notes on some schizoid mechanisms. In M. Klein (Eds.), Envy and gratitude and other works 1946-1963 (pp. 1–24). Virago Press.
  • Layard, R., Clark, D., Knapp, M., & Mayraz, G. (2007). Cost-benefit analysis of psychological therapy. National Institute Economic Review, 202, 90–98. https://doi.org/10.1177/0027950107086171
  • Liddle, R. (2019, March 17). Always fatigued — yet they never tire of claiming their malady really is a virus. The Sunday Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/always-fatigued-yet-theynever-tire-of-claiming-their-malady-really-is-a-virus-d7s7qlvbk
  • Loades, M. E., & Starbuck, J. (2020). CBT for CFS therapist manual. Paediatric CFS team. Royal United Hospital. https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/patients/services/clinical_depts/paediatric_cfs_me/documents/Resources_for_Clinicians_and_Healthcare_Professionals/CBT_for_CFS_Therapist_Manual.pdf
  • Loewenthal, D. (Ed.). (2015). Critical psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and counselling: Implications for practice. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137460585
  • Luca, M. (2011). A qualitative study of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapists’ conceptualisations of medically unexplained symptoms in their clients. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 11(4), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733145.2010.528007
  • Maizels, J., & Adamson, F. (2017). Chronic pain: A neurosomatic approach. Therapy Today, 28(1), 22–26.
  • Marks, D. (1999). Disability: Controversial debates and psychosocial perspectives. Routledge.
  • Matarazzo, J. D. (1980). Behavioral health and behavioral medicine: Frontiers for a new health psychology. The American Psychologist, 35(9), 807–817. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.35.9.807
  • ME Association. (2015). ME/CFS illness management survey results: “No decisions about me without me”part 1. https://meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MEA-ILLNESS-MANAGEMENT-REPORT-MAY-2015.pdf
  • Murray, M., (Ed.). (2015). Critical health psychology (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-28267-5
  • NHS. (2021). Medically unexplained symptoms. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medically-unexplained-symptoms/
  • NHS Digital. (2021). Quality and outcomes framework. Disease Prevalence and Care Quality Achievement Rates. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-tools-and-services/data-services/general-practice-data-hub/quality-outcomes-framework-qof
  • NICE. (2021). Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: Diagnosis and management NICE guideline[NG206]. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG206
  • Payne, H. (2016). The bodymind approach to working with medically unexplained symptoms. Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, 16(4), 14–17.
  • Penman, J. (2021). Messages from the body. Therapy Today, 32(1), 30–33.
  • Proctor, G., McKelvie, S., Brown, M., & Cohen, S. (2021). Counsellors' experiences of ethical conflicts working in IAPT. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 49(3), 396–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2020.1853040
  • Raine, R., Carter, S., Sensky, T., & Black, N. (2004). General practitioners’ perceptions of chronic fatigue syndrome and beliefs about its management, compared with irritable bowel syndrome: Qualitative study. British Medical Journal, 328(7452), 1354–1357. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38078.503819.EE
  • Royal College of Physicians. (2021). Medical leaders sign joint statement in response to NICE guidance on ME/CFS. https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/medical-leaders-sign-joint-statement-response-nice-guidance-mecfs
  • Rothschild, Z. K., Landau, M. J., Sullivan, D., & Keefer, L. A. (2012). A dual-motive model of scapegoating: Displacing blame to reduce guilt or increase control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(6), 1148–1163. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027413
  • Rutherford, J. (2007a). Jonathan Rutherford writes on the link between the US disability insurance company Unum and UK welfare reform. https://www.moStewartresearch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Jonathan-Rutherford-US-dis-ins-co-Unum-UK-welfare-reform.pdf
  • Rutherford, J. (2007b). New labour, the market state, and the end of welfare. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture, 36(36), 38–52. https://doi.org/10.3898/136266207820465660
  • Salmon, P. (2000). Patients who present physical symptoms in the absence of physical pathology: A challenge to existing models of doctor-patient interaction. Patient Education and Counseling, 39(1), 105–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0738-3991(99)00095-6
  • Salmon, P., Peters, S., Clifford, R., Iredale, W., Gask, L., Rogers, A., Dowrick, C., Hughes, J., & Morriss, R. (2007). Why do general practitioners decline training to improve management of medically unexplained symptoms? Journal of General Internal Medicine, 22(5), 565–571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0094-z
  • Santiago-Delefosse, M. (2015). The need for an ‘Embodied-Societal-Psychological’ (ESP) model of illness experience. In M. Murray (Ed.), Critical health psychology (2nd ed., pp. 36–54). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-28267-5_3
  • Shakespeare, T. (1994). Cultural representation of disabled people: Dustbins for disavowal? Disability & Society, 9(3), 283–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599466780341
  • Shakespeare, T., Watson, N., & Alghaib, O. A. (2017). Blaming the victim, all over again: Waddell and Aylward’s biopsychosocial (BPS) model of disability. Critical Social Policy, 37(1), 22–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018316649120
  • Sharpe, M., Chalder, T., Palmer, I., & Wessely, S. (1997). Chronic fatigue syndrome: A practical guide to assessment and management. General Hospital Psychiatry, 19(3), 185–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0163-8343(97)80315-5
  • Shildrick, M. (2020). Critical disability studies: Rethinking the conventions for the age of postmodernity. In N. Watson & S. Vehmas (Eds.), Routledge handbook of disability studies (2nd ed., pp. 32–44). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429430817-3
  • Soldatic, K. (2020). Social suffering in the neoliberal age: Surplusisty and the partially disabled subject. In N. Watson & S. Vehmas (Eds.), Routledge handbook of disability studies (2nd ed., pp. 237–249). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429430817-17
  • Stanley, I., Salmon, P., & Peters, S. (2002). Doctors and social epidemics: The problem of persistent unexplained physical symptoms, including chronic fatigue. The British Journal of General Practice: The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 52(478), 355–356.
  • Stewart, M. (2016). Cash not care: The planned demolition of the UK Welfare State. New Generation Publishing.
  • Stewart, M. (2019). Influences and consequences: The conclusion to the preventable harm project 2009-2019. The Centre for Welfare Reform. https://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/uploads/attachment/668/influences-and-consequences.pdf
  • Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (2004). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In J. T. Jost & J. Sidanius (Eds.), Political psychology (pp. 276–293). Psychology Press.
  • Teo, T. (2015). Critical psychology: A geography of intellectual engagement and resistance. American Psychologist, 70(3), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038727
  • Twisk, F. N., & Maes, M. (2009). A review on cognitive behavorial therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) / chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): CBT/GET is not only ineffective and not evidence-based, but also potentially harmful for many patients with ME/CFS. Neuroendocrinology Letters, 30(3), 284–299.
  • Waddell, G., & Aylward, M. (2005). The scientific and conceptual basis of incapacity benefits. The Stationery Office.
  • Waddell, G., & Aylward, M. (2010). Models of sickness and disability: Applied to common health problems. Royal Society of Medicine.
  • Wade, D. T., & Halligan, P. W. (2007). Social roles and long-term illness: Is it time to rehabilitate convalescence? Clinical Rehabilitation, 21(4), 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215507077799
  • Watermeyer, B. (2012). Toward a contextual psychology of disablism. Routledge.https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203112762
  • Wendell, S. (2006). Toward a feminist theory of disability. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 243–256). Taylor and Francis.
  • Wessely, S. (1997). Chronic fatigue syndrome: A 20th century illness? Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 23(Suppl 3), 17–34.
  • Wessely, S., David, A., Butler, S., & Chalder, T. (1989). Management of chronic (post-viral) fatigue syndrome. The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 39(318), 26–29.
  • Wileman, L., May, C., & Chew-Graham, C. A. (2002). Medically unexplained symptoms and the problem of power in the primary care consultation: A qualitative study. Family Practice, 19(2), 178–182. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/19.2.178
  • Wilkinson, S., & Kitzinger, C. (1996). Theorizing representing the other. In S. Wilkinson & C. Kitzinger (Eds.), Representing the other: A feminism & psychology reader (pp. 1–32). Sage.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.