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<p>The Lightning Process (LP) is not offered as a part of the chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic
encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) standard treatments on the National Health Service. Subject
to the nature of the safeguarding concerns, issues should be directed to the relevant
professional regulator, should the practitioner be a member of a registered profession;
the local authority (trading standards office or children’s service), if false claims
are being made about the effectiveness of the treatment or welfare of a child is a
concern; or the police, if a crime is involved.</p><p>The LP involves a course of
three half-days of training aiming to teach participants how to use their brain to
improve their body's health.</p><p>A randomised controlled trial with 100 adolescents
aged 12-18 was undertaken by researchers in Bristol. Participants were randomised
into two groups: those who received standard CFS/ME treatment and those who received
the standard treatment plus the LP.</p><p>Researchers found those who received the
LP had better physical function, were less tired and less anxious after six months.
At 12 months, they had further improvement in physical function, and improved depression
scores and school attendance. This research trial had several limitations as set out
in the peer reviewed journal article. This was a very small trial and so it would
need to be repeated in a much larger group to demonstrate more generalisable findings.
Participants were not blinded so their self-reported outcomes might have been biased,
for example participants may have been more likely to report positive outcomes because
they knew they were getting additional therapy in the LP group. Of all those eligible
to participate in the trial, fewer than 30% agreed to take part. Participants in the
trial did not have any serious adverse events attributable to either LP or usual care.
LP therapy was given in addition to the usual CFS/ME care as a no-treatment control
group was not deemed ethical, therefore it cannot be suggested as a replacement for
current specialised medical care.</p><p>Independent ethical review ensures that participant
safety is at the centre of all research. In the United Kingdom, review by an ethics
committee is one of a series of safeguards intended to protect the people taking part
in the research. The operating procedure for trials in the UK has inbuilt safeguards
designed to protect patients from harm in the event an intervention is ineffective
or potentially harmful. Participants are free to withdraw from a study at any time.</p><p>
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