Future Research
The Action Model and Consequent Intervention

A first priority is to develop and assess new approaches to intervention that are based on the action model developed in my PhD. This model explains how an individual or a group can achieve accurate, viable, socially sustainable, meaningful and embodied action. The model pertains to any situation of human endeavour where processes require fast, accurate, action cognitions, particularly in situations where time and safety are critical, and which might involve incomplete information and ethical considerations. Intervention approaches based on this ‘action model’ will be similarly wide scope. ‘Action interventions’ will have applications in the fields of: counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, health care, nursing, social work, human services, social policy, social sustainability, conflict resolution, diplomacy, education, business, health science, sports science, medicine, the operation of surgical teams, aviation and transport human factors, software design, and law enforcement. It will be necessary to assess the effectiveness of each action intervention. These projects will offer many collaborative opportunities.

Enactive Cognitive Science and Neurophenomenonolgy

I wish to work with colleagues to review past and current research in the field of enactive cognitive science. In 2011, it will be twenty years since enactive cognitive science was established with the publication of Varela’s book The Embodied Mind.

I would like to undertake neurological and neurophenomenological investigations of the action model developed in my PhD. This will require expertise from cognitive science, neuroscience and neuropsychology.

I believe a worthy research project would involve creating a synthesis between enactive cognitive science, other aspects of Varela’s work, and scholarship relating to diversity and difference. This synthesis has the potential to generate both theoretical and eminently practical means to counteract discrimination, and its effects, and create more equitable and sustainable societies. This research project would not only tackle ethical issues but also provide the impetus for new developments in ethics.

Mathematising Phenomenology

In my PhD I propose that category theory be used in the mathematisation of phenomenology. Mathematising the phenomenality of language comprehension, including the phenomenality of mathematical comprehension, is an initial area for which tools developed in my PhD could be utilised. Mathematising the phenomenality of language comprehension could serve as an initial step towards a mathematisation of the phenomenality of learning. Such research stands to contribute significantly to education and provide a platform for further investigations.

A mathematisation of phenomenology would reveal the kind of manifold within which emotion exists. This ‘emotion space’ may have a complicated topology, potentially involving multiple if not infinite dimensionality. Mathematising the phenomenality of emotion would contribute significantly to disciplines concerned with emotional health. Such an understanding would be a powerful tool in combating illnesses such as depression or schizophrenia.

Given that the architecture of the brain in many animals is similar to that of humans it is likely that the basic structure of the ‘emotion space’ of animals will be similar to that of humans. Research with respect to humans, therefore, could contribute to animal welfare.

The objects (nodes) of phenomenality are constantly in process. Similarly the relations between these objects change across time. Future research into phenomenology needs to develop methodologies and methods that are capable of studying phenomenology as process and relation and evolving within either linear time or time conceived according to a systems internal events. Methodological material in my PhD has contributed towards this goal. Category theory and dynamic systems theory are other approaches that are likely to be efficacious.

The above considerations would be pertinent to any approach to mathematising phenomenality. The project of mathematising phenomenology is likely to provide tools with which to study the processes and relations within phenomenality.

Health

The theoretical approach, methodology and method developed in my PhD stands to improve present understanding of many psychosomatic disorders. I wish to participate in research teams that utilize these new tools to investigate disorders such as depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and other functional and somatic disorders. This base will then make comparative studies possible.

CFS Research

I wish to write two books based on my PhD research and the articles in preparation: a reference text for practitioners and a lay book.

A primary goal is to supervise a team of researchers who would repeat the phenomenological investigation of CFS, which I established in my PhD, and extend this research to include men and a focus on vulnerable ethnic groups.

Given the opportunity, I would like to update my review of the literature on CFS and publish a review article. This could be done in collaboration with a research student.

To investigate the social, environmental and biomedical epidemiology of CFS in men and women is an area of deep interest I would like to pursue. This will require collaboration with at least one epidemiologist.

I would also like to conduct a population-based study of the diagnosis patterns of CFS amongst men and women.

After I have published my PhD findings with respect to the adequacy of the present diagnostic criteria for CFS, I would like to see alternative diagnostic criteria developed, applied and the effectiveness of these new criteria assessed and validated.

CFS Programmes

In light of my research and the experience gained from working with clients over the past two years, I believe it would be possible to create and research management and treatment programmes for CFS. An awareness that it will be important to assess the effectiveness of such programmes underpins my approach and I believe that such assessment will generate research opportunities.

My research suggests that successful management and treatment programmes for CFS need to be multidimensional and interdisciplinary in order to engage with the somatic and psychological dimensions of the disorder. 

Very limited successes have been reported by existing studies. Amongst these successes, however, have been combinations of allopathic and complimentary medicine. This approach may stand to be productive. 

Within CFS programmes, it will be necessary to assess the effectiveness of each component and its interactions with the programme as a whole. This assessment will entail the use of qualitative and quantitative methods employed separately and in tandem. Such a programme will need to be carefully managed. Decision-making processes will be of paramount importance.

Research suggests that contextually sensitive language and models for service delivery are critically important to the success of interventions with CFS patients. Issues of communication are critical.

CFS often involves co-morbidity with other functional and somatic disorders, seasonal affective disorder, multiple chemical sensitivities, anxiety and depression. These co-morbidities will need to be carefully monitored and accounted for.

First steps in the intervention process with CFS clients necessarily involve establishing a trusting relationship and clearly communicating to clients that they are being heard. Narrative therapy is an applicable approach to this process.

My research suggests that Gendlin’s body inclusive psychotherapeutic approach to emotional awareness, combined with mindful awareness, and other approaches to emotion regulation need to be part of CFS programmes.

To recover successfully, CFS sufferers need to be able to accurately access their own levels of motivation and monitor their activity level accordingly. This involves the selective use of ‘self-supervision’. Both the illness experience and the recovery process require the ability to manage change.

Aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused brief therapy work well to facilitate CFS clients to reassess certain beliefs, manage their illness experience and prepare for life after recovery.

Evidence from participants of my research strongly suggests that resilience is essential to recovery. Illness is a stressful life event and in the case of CFS it often involves either acute or cumulative trauma. Cultivating resilience, particularly where trauma has occurred, is a necessary component to a CFS programme. 

Both my research, and experience with clients, suggests that carefully graded sensory stimulation (proprioception and kinesthesia in particular), delivered in an easily accessible manner, is a crucial component in any intervention programme. Internet based tools that can deliver this stimulation to clients in their homes would be the ideal. These tools need to be designed so that the client can monitor their ability to hold their attention on the stimulation delivered, assess their ability to integrate this stimulation and choose the level of stimulation and the length of time involved.

Establishing the appropriate introduction of physical activity is of particular concern given the fear that has often resulted from inappropriate interventions of this kind. Although a necessary component to recovery, the inappropriate use of physical activity can cause symptom exacerbation. Establishing how to change behavior and beliefs with respect to exercise and determining how to introduce movement that is energy enhancing will be of critical importance. Disciplines such as Feldenkrais, Qigong and yoga therapy and dance are highly applicable.

Nutrition is also an important factor in the management or treatment of CFS.