Demitrack, M A · Journal of psychiatric research · 1997 · DOI
This review examines how ME/CFS might be connected to problems with the body's stress hormone system and brain chemistry. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS often have a specific pattern of disruption in their stress response system—different from what occurs in depression—along with changes in serotonin levels. These findings suggest that ME/CFS involves real biological changes, not just psychological factors.
This work provides biological validation for ME/CFS as a distinct neurobiological condition rather than purely psychological illness, supporting ongoing mechanistic research. Identifying specific HPA axis and serotonergic abnormalities creates potential targets for future therapeutic interventions and helps distinguish ME/CFS from depression, improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment approaches.
This review does not establish causation—only that certain neuroendocrine alterations correlate with ME/CFS symptoms. It does not explain why these specific changes occur or whether they represent primary dysfunction or secondary consequences of the illness. The findings also do not prove that neuroendocrine abnormalities alone fully explain ME/CFS pathophysiology, as other systems may be involved.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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Primary citation
Demitrack, M A (1997). Neuroendocrine correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome: a brief review.. Journal of psychiatric research. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3956(96)00059-3
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-demitrack-1997-neuroendocrine-correlates,
author = {Demitrack, M A},
title = {Neuroendocrine correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome: a brief review.},
journal = {Journal of psychiatric research},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1016/s0022-3956(96)00059-3},
note = {PubMed: 9201649},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/demitrack-1997-neuroendocrine-correlates},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/demitrack-1997-neuroendocrine-correlates
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